expectancy
expectancy Lexical Profile
expectancy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The statistically probable amount or duration of something, especially the average period a person or organism may expect to live.
"Advances in public health and nutrition have significantly increased average life expectancy over the past century."
The state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something pleasant or exciting, will happen; anticipation.
"There was an air of quiet expectancy in the concert hall just before the orchestra began to play."
A contingent hope or bare possibility of acquiring an estate or interest in property in the future, such as that of a prospective heir before the ancestor's death (in law).
"Under traditional property law, a mere expectancy cannot be transferred by deed because no actual legal right has vested yet."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'expectation' usually refers to a specific belief or requirement about what will happen, 'expectancy' emphasizes the emotional state of eager anticipation or is used in statistical contexts such as 'life expectancy'.
• Rhymes for expectancy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 17th century from the adjective 'expectant' and the suffix '-cy', ultimately tracing back to the Latin verb 'expectare' ('to await, look out for'), from 'ex-' ('out') and 'spectare' ('to look').