What type of estate grants ownership for a period that is limited by a person's life?

A life estate is a type of ownership that is specifically limited by the life of a designated person, known as the life tenant. Once the life tenant passes away, the ownership does not continue indefinitely but rather reverts back to the original grantor or passes to a designated third party, often referred to as the remainderman. This arrangement allows the life tenant to use and benefit from the property during their lifetime, but they do not have the right to sell or transfer the property in a way that would extend beyond their life. This structure differentiates a life estate from other types of estates, such as a fee simple, which provides complete ownership without time restrictions, or a leasehold estate that grants temporary possession based on a rental agreement, rather than outright ownership.