[This term refers to the time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive substance to become disintegrated or the time required for the activity of a substance taken into the body to lose half its initial effectiveness. However, it is also used informally in the sense given above, to refer to anything that is temporarily effective or useful.] Mr. Trump’s expressed love for the men he called “my generals” has given way to chillier climes. At the Pentagon, senior officials joke about having a half-life with Mr. Trump, one whose longevity is determined by whether they can steer clear of the president. (Helene Cooper, “Mission ‘Accomplished’? Trump Boasts of Being Boon for Military,” The New York Times, 2/19/2019.)
This word can be synonymous with usefulness or value when referring to the temporary period of effectiveness before something goes into decline or obsolescence.
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