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 malaria-causing parasite can only be transmitted from a human host to a mosquito in a certain phase of its life cycle. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2025

Where the occasional molting chinook salmon can be found in the fall, migrating westward in a shallow Waukegan River from Lake Michigan on its way to a futile attempt at continuing the species’ life cycle. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025

But the blind hubris of one of the most powerful people on Earth is less important than what comes later in the scene: Kirsh has already figured out the Xenomorph’s entire life cycle, mastering what it’s taken characters in several Alien films a much longer time to understand. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025

In a noisy, fast-moving SaaS market, brands that earn trust and prove value win across the customer life cycle. —Shirin Ali, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 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