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

The figure has really accelerated since 2017, though, driven in a large part by cost—to live a better quality of life at a lower cost and to have access to affordable healthcare and housing in later years. —Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

Treatment for perimenopause is typically focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life rather than stopping the process itself, notes Colella. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 May 2026

The city, meanwhile, says everybody is subject to parking laws and that they are needed to maintain quality of life and sanitation in neighborhoods, especially beach communities like Mission Bay that have drawn homeless people living in RVs. —Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026

In nursing centers across Florida, nurses are responsible for maintaining residents’ health, safety, and quality of life around the clock. —Dawn Chery-Mangine, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 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