lifetime

[ lahyf-tahym ]

noun

1. the time that the life of someone or something continues; the term of a life:

   peace within our lifetime.

2. Physics. mean life.

adjective

1. for the duration of a person's life:

   He has a lifetime membership in the organization.

lifetime

/ ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

1. 1. the length of time a person or animal is alive
   2. ( as modifier )

      a lifetime supply

2. the length of time that something functions, is useful, etc
3. physics the average time of existence of an unstable or reactive entity, such as a nucleus, excited state, elementary particle, etc; mean life

Word History and Origins

Origin of lifetime¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, lifetime is from the Middle English word liftime. See life, time

Example Sentences

One could read and watch a lifetime of reporting on this subject and still not have a firm handle on its nuances, contradictions, factions, facts and figures of the fight for, and against, Irish independence and reunification — a story going back centuries.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s going to be a massive audience that’s going to see our brand ... putting on this once in a lifetime event, and that’s going to create a lot of brand value for us going forward,” Bidarian said.

From Los Angeles Times

It was the submersible that promised passengers the trip of a lifetime.

From BBC

South Korea’s fertility rate — the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime — currently sits at 0.72, the lowest in the world and far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.

From Los Angeles Times

Einstein was convinced that such a unified theory exists, and during his own lifetime demonstrated that his theory of relativity applies to Newtonian mechanics as well as other important concepts involving electromagnetism, optics, electric and magnetic circuits.

From Salon

Related Words

• career
• life
• period