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

Others may want to embark on a new adventure, preferably one with a solid quality of life and a decent financial value. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025

Nothing, perhaps, can boost your quality of life like a nice home. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025

Creditors can still pursue other assets, and the stress of collection calls and potential lawsuits can take a serious toll on your quality of life. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

The top reasons given were seeking a better quality of life (36%), geopolitical concerns (36%), and the ability to organize tax affairs more efficiently (35%). —Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quality of life

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife