quality of life

noun phrase

: overall enjoyment of life : general well-being
… the male characters on the show not only have a better chance of survival; they're also more likely to improve their quality of life through friendship.Juliet Lapidos
specifically : the degree to which a person or group is healthy, comfortable, and able to enjoy the activities of daily living
Migraine is a common disorder that can severely affect patients' quality of life and daily function. New England Journal of Medicine
often hyphenated when used before another noun
A number of recent surveys have identified noise as New York City's greatest quality-of-life issue. Tom Vanderbilt
abbreviation QOL

Examples of quality of life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Share [Findings] CBD improves quality of life in arthritic elderly dogs. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Instead of choosing a medical plan aimed at fighting against a disease, hospice care prioritizes quality of life. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023 Consideration of quality of life and what is best for the community should be a factor before moving forward with such an ambitious development plan that will significantly alter Hillcrest and its community character. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023 Our health encompasses all our fears and frailties as well as our quality of life. Christopher Morse, STAT, 2 Nov. 2023 One common problem is erectile dysfunction, which can impact a man's quality of life and confidence. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023 In the name of every person killed, injured, traumatized and threatened, for the sake of physical and mental health, property values, investments and quality of life, this must change. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 Education also fits the definition of a program that requires spending money today mostly to improve the quality of life tomorrow. David Leonhardt, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023 In sum, consumers of all walks of life and political persuasions are interested in products that improve their quality of life from a sustainability perspective, especially when connected to themselves, their family, and their community. Tensie Whelan, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quality of life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quality of life was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near quality of life

Cite this Entry

“Quality of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quality%20of%20life. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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