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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fact of life was circa 1806

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.

Kids Definition

fact of life

noun
1
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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