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

Monaco’s son, now 7-years-old and in the second grade, is learning through activities such as field trips to a marsh to study animals and the elements, or an at-school farm to learn about the life cycle of plants and pollination. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

Modern CMOs oversee customer data, technology investments, revenue programs and engagement across the customer life cycle, but none of that guarantees a voice. — Alexi Hatch, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

More concretely, Mazzolai would like to incorporate the concept of a life cycle into the design of robots, so that at the end of their useful life these machines can be reused, recycled, or even biodegraded. — IEEE Spectrum, 22 Sep. 2026

The odds are even steeper when observing the entire life cycle, with less than 1% surviving from the egg stage all the way to adulthood. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 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