longlived

Longlived is an adjective used to describe something with a long life span or extended duration. It is most commonly written as long-lived (hyphenated), though in some contexts the term appears as a closed compound, longlived. The word is deployed across disciplines to indicate durability, resilience, or extended life.

In biology and ecology, long-lived refers to organisms that survive for many years relative to related species. Examples include certain reptiles and mammals such as tortoises and bowhead whales. Longevity is influenced by genetic factors, metabolism, disease resistance, and environmental conditions and is a central topic in gerontology and conservation.

In engineering and product design, long-lived describes components or systems with extended service life, low maintenance needs, and resilience against wear, corrosion, or fatigue. Designers seek long-lived parts to reduce downtime and replacement costs. Examples include durable materials in infrastructure, electromechanical devices with long lifespans, and high-cycle batteries.

In computing and data management, long-lived can describe processes or data objects that persist across software updates or restarts, or data policies that preserve information for extended periods. The term is used in discussions of system reliability and data stewardship to distinguish persistent assets from short-lived resources.

See also longevity, lifespan. The term contrasts with short-lived or ephemeral, and is often preferred in scientific writing for its precise connotation of extended duration.