Term life insurance or term assurance is life insurance which provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited period of time, the relevant term.
After that period expires coverage at the previous rate of premiums is no longer guaranteed and the client must either forgo coverage or potentially obtain further coverage with different payments and/or conditions.
If the insured dies during the term, the death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary.
Term insurance is often the most inexpensive (cheap) way to purchase a substantial death benefit on a coverage amount per premium dollar basis.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_life_insurance)