fact of life
noun phrase
1
: something that exists and must be taken into consideration
2
facts of life plural
: the fundamental physiological processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction
Examples of fact of life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The filibuster is a fact of life in the Senate.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The first happens in accordance with the Earth’s rotation, the second will be healed with stretching and Ibuprofen, and the third is simply a fact of life and the passage of time.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
But California’s high prices have remained a grim fact of life, especially for young people struggling to enter the housing market, despite the draw of enjoying the Golden State’s many attributes such as its natural beauty, powerful economic might and culture of innovation.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For more than a century, the Forest Service has been a fairly stable fact of life across vast swaths of the American landscape.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fact of life
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The first happens in accordance with the Earth’s rotation, the second will be healed with stretching and Ibuprofen, and the third is simply a fact of life and the passage of time.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
But California’s high prices have remained a grim fact of life, especially for young people struggling to enter the housing market, despite the draw of enjoying the Golden State’s many attributes such as its natural beauty, powerful economic might and culture of innovation.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For more than a century, the Forest Service has been a fairly stable fact of life across vast swaths of the American landscape.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fact of life
Cite this Entry
“Fact of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fact%20of%20life. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
