Lifelong vs. Lifetime: Know the Difference

By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023

Lifelong describes something lasting for a person's entire life, while lifetime refers to the duration of a person's life or the period during which something exists.

Key Differences

Lifelong is an adjective that describes something lasting for the entirety of a person's life, often implying a deep, enduring quality. In contrast, lifetime, used as a noun, refers to the total length of time that a person lives or an object exists.

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Dec 01, 2023

Lifelong often conveys a sense of personal commitment or involvement, as in lifelong learning or a lifelong passion. Lifetime, however, is more about the span of time itself, as in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or calculating the lifetime of a product.

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Dec 01, 2023

When someone refers to a lifelong friend, it suggests a friendship that has endured throughout all stages of life. On the other hand, a lifetime achievement award recognizes accomplishments over the entire span of an individual's career.

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Lifelong can also indicate a continuous process or development, like a lifelong journey of discovery. Lifetime, in another usage, can be about the duration of something's functionality, such as the lifetime warranty of a product.

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A lifelong dream implies a dream held consistently over a person's life, showing personal significance and continuity. A lifetime's work, however, sums up all the work done or achievements made over a person's entire lifespan.

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Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Adjective

Noun

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Contextual Use

Describes duration in a person’s life

Refers to the span of a person’s life or an object's existence

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Implication

Personal commitment or continuous involvement

Total span or duration of existence

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Example Usage

Lifelong passion, lifelong friend

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, lifetime achievement

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Focus

Continuity and enduring quality

Totality and span of time or existence

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Lifelong and Lifetime Definitions

Lifelong

Enduring for a person's whole life.

His lifelong devotion to science led to many discoveries.

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Lifetime

Used to describe an event or experience as once in a person's life.

Their trip to Africa was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Lifelong

Characteristic of something continuing for a lifetime.

He pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a writer.

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Lifetime

The duration of a person's or thing's existence.

The lifetime of the product exceeded our expectations.

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Lifelong

Lasting or continuing through the entire life.

She had a lifelong interest in music, starting from childhood.

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Lifetime

The entire extent of a person's life.

She achieved a great deal in her lifetime.

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Lifelong

Reflecting a commitment or involvement spanning a person's life.

Her lifelong commitment to charity work was admirable.

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Lifetime

A period characterized by particular events or experiences.

The technological advancements in his lifetime were remarkable.

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Lifelong

Persistent throughout someone's life.

They maintained a lifelong friendship since their school days.

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Lifetime

The period during which something is functional or exists.

The bridge was built to last a lifetime.

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Lifelong

Continuing for a lifetime.

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Oct 19, 2023

Lifetime

The period of time during which an individual is alive.

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Lifelong

Extending for the entire duration of life.

They were lifelong friends; they met in elementary school and ended their lives in the same rest home.

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Oct 19, 2023

Lifetime

The period of time during which property, an object, a process, or a phenomenon exists or functions.

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Lifelong

Lasting or continuing through life.

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Lifetime

Continuing for a lifetime; lifelong.

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Lifelong

Continuing through life;

A lifelong friend

From lifelong habit

His lifelong study of Greek art

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Lifetime

Occurring or measured over a person's active career

A lifetime batting average.

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Lifetime

The duration of the life of someone or something.

A project that will take many human lifetimes to complete

The operational lifetime of an aircraft component

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Lifetime

A long period of time.

I've been waiting a lifetime for a train.

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Oct 19, 2023

Lifetime

The time that life continues.

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Lifetime

The period during which something is functional (as between birth and death);

The battery had a short life

He lived a long and happy life

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Oct 19, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

What's a lifelong goal?

A lifelong goal is an objective someone strives to achieve throughout their life.

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Is lifelong a compound word?

Yes, lifelong is a compound word formed from "life" and "long."

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What does lifetime mean?

Lifetime refers to the duration of a person's life or existence of an object.

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Can lifetime refer to products?

Yes, it can refer to the operational lifespan of products.

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Is lifetime always about humans?

No, it can refer to the duration of anything's existence.

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What does lifelong mean?

Lifelong describes something that lasts or is valid for a person's entire life.

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Can lifelong be used for inanimate objects?

Generally, it's used for living beings, but metaphorically it can be applied to inanimate objects.

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What's a lifetime warranty?

It's a guarantee that lasts for the product's lifespan.

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Can an interest be lifelong?

Yes, interests can be lifelong if sustained through a person's life.

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Does lifelong imply a good quality?

It often does but can be neutral, depending on context.

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Can a career be lifelong?

Yes, a career can be lifelong if one pursues it for their whole life.

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Can lifelong be used figuratively?

Yes, it's sometimes used figuratively to emphasize duration.

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Does lifetime warranty mean forever?

It means for the product's expected lifespan, not necessarily forever.

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Is lifelong always positive?

Not necessarily; it can describe negative aspects too, like a lifelong illness.

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What's a once-in-a-lifetime event?

An event that's so unique it's unlikely to occur again in one's life.

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Can lifetime achievements be surpassed?

Yes, as it refers to achievements up to the present time.

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How do you use lifetime in a sentence?

"She achieved much in her lifetime."

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Does lifetime mean the best time?

Not necessarily; it simply denotes the duration of existence.

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Dec 01, 2023

Do lifetime friends always stay friends?

Ideally, but it's not guaranteed; it indicates a long-lasting friendship.

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Can lifetime be plural?

Yes, as in "over several lifetimes."

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Dec 01, 2023

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About Author

Written by

Shumaila Saeed

Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.