longevity
lawn-JEV-uh-tee
/lɔːnˈdʒev.ə.ti/
Long life; long existence or service.
Can apply both to the lifespan of individual humans and to the durability of products or careers.
The story behind the word. Formed from Late Latin 'longaevitas', fusing 'longus' (long) and 'aevum' (an age or era). It arrived in English during the Renaissance to describe lives extended far beyond average expectations.
Word relationships
- durability: Durability usually applies to inanimate objects, while longevity frequently applies to living beings or careers.
- transience: The state of lasting for only a short time.
- brevity: Shortness of duration.
Commonly confused with
- longitudinal: Longitudinal means measured over a long stretch of time, while longevity is long lifespan itself.
Word family
- longevous (adjective): Long-lived (rare academic term).
Collocations
- exceptional longevity
- career longevity
- promote longevity
- longevity gap
Example sentences
- "Medical breakthroughs and dietary improvements have contributed to unprecedented human longevity." Health research
- "The employee was honored for her extraordinary longevity, having served forty years at the company." Corporate career
Memory hook
LONG + AGE = longevity (living a long age). Living long.
When not to use
Do not use to describe brief moments of happiness or short bursts of activity.
Fun facts
- The 'Blue Zones' are regions around the world where people consistently achieve exceptional longevity.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.