longevity
- 01 C1 Advanced
a long life for a person, animal, or plant.
the length or duration of an individual's life, specifically referring to a long lifespan.
Simple“The island is famous for the longevity of its people, many of whom live past one hundred.”
In context“Medical researchers are investigating whether specific genetic markers contribute more to human longevity than environmental factors like diet and exercise.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the ability of something to last or stay successful for many years.
the capacity of an object, career, or institution to persist or remain functional over an extended period.
Simple“The longevity of the band's career is impressive in such a fast-changing industry.”
In context“The architect prioritised structural longevity, selecting materials that could withstand the corrosive effects of the coastal salt air for decades.”
UsageCommonly used in business and engineering contexts to describe success or durability.
SynonymsAntonymstransienceshort livedness
“It also meant bodies could be buried there, an important factor for archaeology because of the longevity of funerary inscriptions.”
“Just a couple of hours of strength training each week could have surprisingly powerful effects on longevity.”
Early 17th century, learned borrowing from Latin longaevitās, from longaevus (“ancient, aged”) + -itās. The first part is related to English long and this association led to the alternative pronunciation with /ŋ/.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.