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

During public comment, six people spoke in favor of the project, while 19 spoke in opposition, raising concerns about traffic, safety and quality of life. —Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026

These reader‑driven honors reflect the voices of neighbors who nominate and vote for the organizations that consistently deliver strong service and support local quality of life. —Community's Choice Awards, jsonline.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Because symptoms are persistent, knowing how to manage chronic hives is essential for maintaining quality of life. —Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 Mar. 2026

Officers were tasked with combating what officials said was a rise in thefts, people spending money obtained by defrauding the state’s unemployment system and quality of life issues like loud music and the smell of marijuana drifting into stores, according to a 2021 Times investigation. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quality of life

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife