ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun
1. : the duration of existence of an individual
the effect on his life-span of the great pressure under which her husband works — George Lawton
2. : the average length of life of a kind of organism or a material object especially in a particular environment or under specified circumstances
some insects whose life-span is no longer than a season — National Geographic
the life-span of the daily political cartoon — E.W.Kenworthy
the whole life-span of the commonwealth — So. Atlantic Quarterly