life skill

noun

plural life skills

: an ability that enables a person to effectively engage in one or more common daily activities

Managing one's finances effectively and being an informed consumer of financial services is an important life skill, especially for students who are of limited financial means.

—Lyle McKinney et al.

"Adulting" classes for millennials—classes that teach basic life skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and time management—are rising nationwide.

—Nicole Russell

also : one or more of the cognitive, interpersonal, or emotional soft skills

Having different kinds of friends and generally being able to get along with different kinds of people is an important life skill.

—Aminatou Sow

As they play, children teach themselves essential life skills, many of which involve practice and discipline.

—Darell Hammond

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above