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

Apparently, it was first proposed by TikTok oracle joebro909, who hilariously joked about a meme reset during a comedy skit on the short life cycle of memes. —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 Dec. 2025

How Wasps Survive Winter The life cycle of wasps is similar to bees. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025

Perimenopause refers to those years in the reproductive life cycle where the ovarian production of estrogen becomes irregular and erratic, Ross explains. —Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 17 Dec. 2025

Measuring how much planet-warming pollution a car emits is not a straightforward science as its whole life cycle, including how it was manufactured, needs to be taken into account. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 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