expectancy

View more Law & Legal Issues videos

noun

1. The condition of looking forward to something, especially with eagerness: anticipation, expectance, expectation. See surprise/expect.
2. Something expected: anticipation, expectation, prospect. See surprise/expect.

n

Definition: anticipation
Antonyms: despair, discouragement, hopelessness

The state of anticipating the probability of an outcome. Level of expectancy is regarded by some sport psychologists as one of the main factors contributing to motivation. For example, during training, an athlete who is working hard to perform well might expect praise from the coach. If the coach fails to provide praise, the athlete's level of expectancy will decrease and he or she may lose the motivation to work hard.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A mere hope, based upon no direct provision, promise, or trust. An expectancy is the possibility of receiving a thing, rather than having a vested interest in it.

The term has been applied to situations where an individual hopes and expects to receive something, generally property or money, but has no founded assurance of possession. A person named in a will as an heir has only an expectancy to inherit under the will, since there exists a possibility that the will may be altered so as to disinherit him or her.

See words rhyming with "expectancy."

Dansk (Danish)
n. - forventning, fremtidsudsigt

Nederlands (Dutch)
verwachting, vooruitzicht (speciaal van toekomstig bezit), toekomstige kans

Français (French)
n. - espérance

Deutsch (German)
n. - Erwartung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - προσδοκία, αδημονία, μαθηματική ή στατιστική προσδοκία, (το) προσδόκιμο

Italiano (Italian)
speranza, gravidanza

Português (Portuguese)
n. - expectativa (f), perspectiva (f)

Русский (Russian)
ожидание, предвкушение

Español (Spanish)
n. - esperanza, expectación

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - förväntan

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
期望, 期望之事物, 预期

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 期望, 期望之事物, 預期

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 가망, 기대

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 期待, 予期

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) توقع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮ציפייה, תקווה, סיכוי‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.