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

Retirement Living ranked all 50 states for retirees by analyzing each one on its quality of life, affordability and economic strength. — Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Also, his team may advise that a specific nursing home or memory care facility would improve his quality of life in some ways. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026

Or instead of cutting taxes, the additional revenue can be used to increase community amenities and services that improve quality of life that outweigh the noise and grid strain. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Smart, responsible planning will help reduce congestion, protect our neighborhoods and preserve Palmetto Bay’s quality of life. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 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