noun
Uncommon
longevity
lon-JEHV-ih-tee
Longevity (noun) means the quality of living or lasting for a long time. Example: “A healthy diet and regular exercise are linked to greater longevity.”
noun
1
The quality of living or lasting for a long time.
"Grandpa had incredible longevity: he lived to be 105 years old!"
"A healthy diet and regular exercise are linked to greater longevity."
"The company's longevity in a competitive market says a lot about its management."
"The longevity of spicy and swicy will depend on how committed consumers are to sticking with these flavors as they grow older."
— Parija Kavilanz, ‘Swicy’ is the hottest trend in food right now (2024)
How to use longevity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLong life, or the ability of something to last a long time.
Common pairings
increase longevity
career longevity
longevity of the brand
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Word forms
- Plural
- longevities
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A healthy diet and regular exercise are linked to greater _____.
Etymology
A 17th-century learned borrowing from Latin longaevitas, from longaevus ("long-lived"), built from longus ("long") and aevum ("age, lifetime").
Class of 1600
longevity joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for longevity
See all rhymes for longevity →Frequently asked questions
What does “longevity” mean?
The word “longevity” means the quality of living or lasting for a long time. In plain terms, long life, or the ability of something to last a long time.
How do you pronounce “longevity”?
“Longevity” is pronounced lon-JEHV-ih-tee (/lɑnˈd͡ʒɛv.ə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “longevity” in a sentence?
Here is “longevity” used in a sentence: “A healthy diet and regular exercise are linked to greater longevity.”
What is another word for “longevity”?
Words with a similar meaning to “longevity” include long-livedness and permanence.
What part of speech is “longevity”?
“Longevity” is a noun.
Where does the word “longevity” come from?
The word “longevity” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Latin. A 17th-century learned borrowing from Latin longaevitas, from longaevus ("long-lived"), built from longus ("long") and aevum ("age, lifetime").
Is “longevity” a common word?
“Longevity” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between longevity and lifespan?
Longevity refers to the quality of living or lasting for a long time, often used to emphasize duration in a positive or notable sense. Lifespan is a more neutral, measurable term for the total length of time something lives, without necessarily implying that the duration is notably long.
Can longevity describe things other than living creatures?
Yes, longevity is often used to describe the durability of non-living things as well, such as a career, a product, or an institution, whenever the emphasis is on the quality of lasting for a long time.
Is longevity always used positively?
Longevity is typically used in a positive or neutral sense to highlight the achievement or quality of lasting a long time, whether describing a person's health and lifespan or the durability of a career or object.
