# expectancy

/ɪkˈspɛktənsi/ (US) · /ɛkspˈɛktənsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expectancy
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. anticipation

noun · CEFR B2

the feeling that something is about to happen, especially something good.

For teachers: the state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something pleasant, will happen soon.

- There was a sense of expectancy in the crowd as they waited for the singer to appear.
- An air of quiet expectancy filled the courtroom as the jury returned to deliver their final verdict after three days of deliberation.

### 2. life expectancy

noun · CEFR B2

the number of years that a person or thing is likely to live or last.

For teachers: the average period that a person may expect to live, or that an object is expected to remain functional.

- Better healthcare has led to a higher life expectancy in many countries.
- Public health officials noted that life expectancy had plateaued in the region due to rising rates of sedentary lifestyle diseases.

Usage: Often used in the compound 'life expectancy'.

### 3. expected value

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the average value you expect to get from a set of data or a chance.

For teachers: the predicted value of a variable, calculated as the sum of all possible values each multiplied by the probability of its occurrence.

- The mathematical expectancy of the game shows that the house always wins.
- In statistical theory, the expectancy of a random variable provides a measure of the center of its distribution.

Usage: Used as a technical synonym for 'expected value' in probability and statistics.

### 4. legal future interest

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a right to own or use something in the future, even if you do not have it yet.

For teachers: a potential future interest in property or an estate that has not yet vested.

- The heir had a legal expectancy to the family estate once his uncle passed away.
- The court ruled that a mere expectancy of inheritance does not constitute a present property right in divorce settlements.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.