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Definition of expectancy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

expectancy

noun
 
/ɪkˈspektənsi/
 
/ɪkˈspektənsi/
[uncountable]
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  1. the state of expecting or hoping that something, especially something good or exciting, will happen
    • There was an air of expectancy among the waiting crowd.
    see also life expectancy
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryExpectancy is used after these nouns:
    • life
    See full entry
    Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin exspectantia, from exspectare ‘look out for’, from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’.
See expectancy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee expectancy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: expectancy

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