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

However, after contending with a string of conflicts going back to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and beyond, the disruption of war has become a fact of life that airlines have become adept at dealing with. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 June 2025

Another fact of life in Iran that might confound the average American worker: The workweek in Iran runs Saturday to Wednesday, in keeping with Muslim traditions. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Wrinkles, fatigue, hormonal changes—these were inevitable facts of life. —Devin Haman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

But with cord-cutting long a fact of life and even far larger streamers struggling for mindshare, the company has been hit hard. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fact of life

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

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