Gompertz-Makeham law

proper noun

The observation that the human death rate is the sum of an age-dependent component (the Gompertz function), which increases exponentially with age, and an age-independent component (the Makeham term).

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Meanings

proper nounthe Gompertz-Makeham law
  1. The observation that the human death rate is the sum of an age-dependent component (the Gompertz function), which increases exponentially with age, and an age-independent component (the Makeham term).

Origin

Named after Benjamin Gompertz and William Makeham.

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Cite this entry
APA

Gompertz-Makeham law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gompertz-Makeham%20law

MLA

“Gompertz-Makeham law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gompertz-Makeham%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gompertz-Makeham law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gompertz-Makeham%20law.

Source: Gompertz-Makeham law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.