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

Projects are fostered by Guild members, who then weigh in at various stages of a project’s life cycle, reading scripts and viewing test screenings. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Rethink your product life cycle as a system of digital twins that describe the plans, designs, processes and decisions that go into delivering products to market. — Leon Lauritsen, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

At the same time, there’s no one-size-fits all for chemical hazard risks, and each substance must be evaluated in terms of application, exposure, life cycle and other factors that can impact hazard levels. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Monarch butterflies typically live from two to six weeks, with the exception of the last generation of the year (meaning butterflies that complete the life cycle and survive to see winter) that migrates. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 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