life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 2

3

: a series of stages through which something (such as an individual, culture, or manufactured product) passes during its lifetime

Examples of life cycle in a Sentence

the life cycle of a shark

Recent Examples on the Web

This move allowed the company to provide better product-level life cycle assessment data enabling digital product passport creation across its product portfolio. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026

My work in comprehensive products and solutions has shown me that modern claims organizations can benefit from a different model—one where property intelligence is connected across the claim life cycle. — David Tobias, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

In a typical life cycle, cataracts follow presbyopia by a decade or two, at which point glasses and contacts are of little use. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Consequently, the plant could potentially become net-negative—removing more CO₂ from the atmosphere than the entire system emits during its life cycle. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for life cycle

• recycle
• motorcycle

Kids Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages of form and activity through which a living thing passes from a beginning stage (as an egg) in one individual to the same stage in its offspring

2

: life history sense 1

Medical Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 1a