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

For people with very serious illnesses, a clinical trial may offer the best hope for extending their life or improving their quality of life. — Michelle Andrews, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

Many inmates are afraid of retaliation, Postil said, because the prison staff can affect their quality of life and inmates can’t just walk out the door. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Nuisance, negligence and harm to residents The largest set of claims in the lawsuit has to do with arguing that the data center damages residents’ health, futures and quality of life in the areas closest to the 400-acre hyperscale AI factory. — Ilana Arougheti updated August 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026

Maintaining a healthy jobs-to-housing ratio is critical to both quality of life and the city’s long-term fiscal sustainability. — Pierluigi Oliverio, Mercury News, 14 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