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

And this film has barely begun its life cycle, right? —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025

There has already been a 20% productivity lift to select parts of the development life cycle that Bank of America has focused its efforts on. —John Kell, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

This project led Coach to conduct a life cycle assessment on the bag and learn that by using post-consumer denim, the brand could save up to 80 percent carbon and 95 percent water versus new denim. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025

Since filmmaking is both costly and complex, the French model structures a film’s life cycle to reflect levels of investment — allowing those who contribute the most to appear earliest in the chronology, and those who follow to participate proportionally. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025

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