die Lebenszeit
lifetime
The entire span of time that a person lives from the moment of birth until death.
EXAMPLE
Er hat einen großen Teil seiner Lebenszeit der Musik gewidmet.
He devoted a large part of his lifetime to music.
die Lebenszeit
lifetime
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Meanings
die Lebenszeit
service life
The expected functional lifespan of a product, device, or material before it becomes unusable.
EXAMPLE
Die durchschnittliche Lebenszeit eines modernen Smartphones beträgt nur wenige Jahre.
The average service life of a modern smartphone is only a few years.
auf Lebenszeit
for life
A duration that lasts until the end of a person's life, often in the context of offices, titles, or punishments.
EXAMPLE
Richter am Bundesverfassungsgericht werden nicht auf Lebenszeit ernannt.
Judges on the Federal Constitutional Court are not appointed for life.
Usage tips
Word composition
'Lebenszeit' (lifetime) is a compound noun made from 'das Leben' (life) and 'die Zeit' (time). The 's' in between is a linking s that connects the two words.
EXAMPLE
Die Lebenszeit ist zu kurz für schlechte Laune.
Life is too short for bad moods.
Context clue
Whether the lifespan of a person or the functional lifespan of a device is meant becomes clear from context. If the word refers to people, it is about the person. If it refers to technology or products, it is about their durability.
EXAMPLE
Goethe hat während seiner Lebenszeit viele Werke geschrieben.
Goethe wrote many works during his lifetime.
Typical collocations
When referring to a person's lifespan, the word is often combined with a possessive pronoun (meine, seine, ihre) and verbs such as 'widmen' (to devote), 'verbringen' (to spend), or 'genießen' (to enjoy).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihre gesamte Lebenszeit der Forschung gewidmet.
She devoted her entire lifetime to research.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'auf Lebenszeit' (for life) is a fixed expression. It is often used in legal or political contexts for offices or judgments that apply until a person's death.
EXAMPLE
Der Diktator ernannte sich selbst zum Präsidenten auf Lebenszeit.
The dictator appointed himself president for life.
Compare with
Lebenszeit vs Lebensdauer
lifespan
Lebenszeit refers to the entire span of a person's life, but it can also mean the expected operating time of a product. Lebensdauer is likewise used for living things and objects and is especially appropriate in technical specifications. In technical contexts, the two words therefore overlap to a large extent.
Lebenszeit
Die Lebenszeit dieser Batterie hängt stark von der Nutzung ab.
This battery's service life depends heavily on how it is used.
Lebensdauer
Die technische Lebensdauer dieser Batterie beträgt etwa fünf Jahre.
This battery has a technical service life of about five years.
In real life
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