student asking question

What is life expectancy? from what I guess, it seems something like "expected lifespan", right? But is "life expectancy" more formal in tone?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Life expectancy" does mean "expected lifespan!" It's the more technical term for it. So it's more common to hear "life expectancy" than "expected lifespan." If you were to say it casually, it would be something like "how long something usually lives." Ex: The life expectancy of a goldfish is 10 to 15 years. = Goldfish usually live for about 10 to 15 years. Ex: An animal's life expectancy can be quite long. But it often depends on their living conditions.

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