expectancy
n. C / Un. the feeling that something exciting or important is about to happen. It can also mean the average time someone is likely to live or how long a machine will last.
n. the state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something pleasant, will happen soon. In technical contexts, it refers to a statistical prediction of duration, such as life or utility.
There was a sense of expectancy in the air before the concert.
The crowd waited in quiet expectancy for the results of the election to be announced.
While life expectancy has increased globally due to medical advances, the psychological expectancy of the youth often remains tethered to economic stability.
From expectant + -cy or expect + -ancy.
Uncountable when referring to the emotional state of waiting; countable when used in statistical phrases like 'life expectancies'.
The life expectation of a cat is 15 years.The life expectancy of a cat is 15 years.In statistical contexts regarding duration, 'expectancy' is the standard term, whereas 'expectation' refers to a belief about the future.