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

Though firefighters are on call 24 hours at a time, they are guaranteed 48 hours off directly after every call shift and are not required to drive ambulances — steps which Gannon said the city sees as proof of commitment to a high quality of life for firefighters. —Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026

There’s no proven way to prevent or cure the disease, but delaying its onset—even modestly—can help preserve and prolong people’s independence and quality of life. —Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 19 Feb. 2026

Connected people are more likely to adhere to medical treatment; and those with cancer survive longer, better avoid recurrence, and experience higher quality of life than their isolated peers. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 19 Feb. 2026

And while a thriving creative scene might not be directly linked to a country’s GDP or military might, a focus on design can contribute to a high quality of life. —Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 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