life-only
|life-on-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈlaɪfˌoʊnli/
🇬🇧
/ˈlaɪfˌəʊnli/
limited to life
Etymology
'life-only' originates from English, specifically the words 'life' and 'only', where 'life' comes from Old English 'līf' meaning 'life' and 'only' comes from Old English 'ān/ānlic' meaning 'one' or 'alone'.
'life' developed from Old English 'līf' into modern English 'life', and 'only' developed from Old English 'ān/ānlic' through Middle English forms such as 'onliche' to modern 'only'. The hyphenated compound 'life-only' arose in modern English usage (particularly insurance/financial contexts) by combining these words to express limitation to a person's life.
Initially a straightforward combination of 'life' + 'only' meaning 'only for life'; over time it became a technical term in insurance and finance specifically indicating benefits or payments that end at death.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an insurance or annuity product that pays only for the lifetime of the annuitant or insured and ceases on their death (also referred to in finance as a 'life-only annuity').
The adviser recommended a life-only for someone who wanted income that stops at death.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/23 09:57