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
There was a time when the Chamber accepted labor unions as a fact of life.
—
Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023
Rapid inflation has now been a fact of life for 30 consecutive months.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023
Despite their caution, outsiders are a fact of life in Cherokee — a tourist draw since the middle of the 20th century.
—Jacey Fortin Mike Belleme, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
Security staffer Rojas said cannabis odors have become an inescapable fact of life.
—James Martinez, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023
That sort of shuffling is a fact of life for any offensive line, said Andrews.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2023
These fall migrations are both a simple fact of life for many avian species, and an epic adventure that takes them halfway across the globe.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
After that, a wave of repression made murder, torture and other rights violations tragic facts of life under Pinochet’s regime.
—Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Throughout these decades of change, one permanent condition has set in: The congestion charge is now just a fact of life.
—Curbed, 31 May 2023
See More
Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023
Rapid inflation has now been a fact of life for 30 consecutive months.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023
Despite their caution, outsiders are a fact of life in Cherokee — a tourist draw since the middle of the 20th century.
—Jacey Fortin Mike Belleme, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
Security staffer Rojas said cannabis odors have become an inescapable fact of life.
—James Martinez, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023
That sort of shuffling is a fact of life for any offensive line, said Andrews.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2023
These fall migrations are both a simple fact of life for many avian species, and an epic adventure that takes them halfway across the globe.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
After that, a wave of repression made murder, torture and other rights violations tragic facts of life under Pinochet’s regime.
—Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Throughout these decades of change, one permanent condition has set in: The congestion charge is now just a fact of life.
—Curbed, 31 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fact 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
circa 1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near 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 29 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
fact of life
noun1
: something that exists and must be taken into consideration
tests are a fact of life for students
2
plural
: the basic bodily processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction
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