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

As conversations around healthy aging increasingly shift from simply living longer to maintaining mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life, environmental exposures are becoming another part of that picture. — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Research affects health, prosperity, quality of life and national security. — H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Fagin, who heads an organization devoted to enhancing quality of life for older adults, specifically asked Schneider about Medicaid cuts. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Following Yuko’s recent diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, the office decided that retirement would be best for his health and quality of life. — Rose Evans august 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quality of life

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