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Meaning & use

longevity

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/lɒnˈdʒev.ə.ti/
US/lɑːnˈdʒev.ə.t̬i/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A long life, or the fact of living for many years.

    Grammar: Uncountable, usually about people or animals: the longevity of tortoises.

    Patterns

    • the longevity of someone
    • longevity in a family

    Longevity runs in her family, and several relatives lived past ninety.

    Scientists study the diet of regions known for human longevity.

    Tortoises are famous for their longevity.

  2. noununcountable

    The length of time that something lasts or stays useful.

    Grammar: Can describe objects, careers or institutions: the longevity of a product.

    Patterns

    • the longevity of something

    Good boots are chosen for comfort and longevity.

    The band's longevity surprised critics who expected a short career.

    A fresh coat of paint adds to the longevity of the fence.

Common combinations

longevity of life
The study looked at the longevity of life in rural areas.
promote longevity
A healthy diet can promote longevity.
product longevity
Product longevity matters to buyers who hate waste.
career longevity
Her career longevity came from constantly learning new skills.
ensure longevity
Regular oiling ensures the longevity of the tools.

Synonyms and how they differ

long life
Long life is the plain phrase, and longevity sounds more scientific.
durability
Durability concerns how well an object resists wear, while longevity is about how long it lasts overall.
endurance
Endurance is the power to keep going through hardship, rather than simply lasting.
permanence
Permanence implies something stays forever, but longevity only means a long time.

Opposites

brevityshort life

Word family

long-lived adjective
living or lasting a long time
long adjective
extending a great distance or time
length noun
the measurement from end to end

Commonly confused: longevity or longitude? longevity or longevity?

longevity vs longitude

Longitude is a position measured east or west on a map, and has nothing to do with long life.

longevity vs longevity

Do not spell it with an e after the g, as in longeivity; the correct order is longevity.

Practice

The company chose the material because of its ___; it should last for fifty years.

Make it your own

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