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

Seasonal increases in the virus are mainly driven by heat and warmer temperatures across the Midwest, which allow for a faster mosquito life cycle, and in return, viral life cycle. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Mosquitoes have a boom or bust life cycle and take advantage of weather and environmental changes. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026

For enterprise leaders, the next phase of development is about refining and integrating AI reliability across the entire software life cycle. —Fabio Caversan, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Rotating crops in a vegetable garden, planting trap crops, and breaking up insect life cycles by planting cover crops are good ways to prevent pest infestations. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 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