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

The facility will work across the battery life cycle, from raw materials and vehicle applications to recycling. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

RatHat launches a separate native service outside the normal app life cycle. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

In fact, many of these events are a natural part of an ice shelf's life cycle rather than the result of climate change or human activity. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026

Using community science, participants will find out ways to contribute to monarch conservation, learning about their ecology, life cycle, migration, habitat and more. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 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