quality of life

noun phrase

: overall enjoyment of life : general well-being
… the male characters on the show not only have a better chance of survival; they're also more likely to improve their quality of life through friendship.Juliet Lapidos
specifically : the degree to which a person or group is healthy, comfortable, and able to enjoy the activities of daily living
Migraine is a common disorder that can severely affect patients' quality of life and daily function. New England Journal of Medicine
often hyphenated when used before another noun
A number of recent surveys have identified noise as New York City's greatest quality-of-life issue. Tom Vanderbilt
abbreviation QOL

Examples of quality of life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If tonsil stones are impacting your quality of life, Brown recommends seeing a physician to have a discussion about tonsil activity. Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024 Long commutes—sometimes taking up to three hours, both ways—have drastically reduced quality of life. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Summary Occasional heartburn is usually not a cause for concern, but ongoing symptoms that impair quality of life are a reason to talk to a healthcare provider. Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024 At this stage, these treatments aim to help reduce your cancer symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. Heidi Cope, Health, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quality of life 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quality of life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quality of life was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near quality of life

Cite this Entry

“Quality of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quality%20of%20life. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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