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

Even better, people taking the drug had about five more months before their quality of life deteriorated compared to those on chemotherapy. —Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026

Johns founded the university's voice center in 2017 in order to help people experiencing issues with their voices, swallowing or airways and improve their quality of life. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026

Even better, people taking the drug had about five more months before their quality of life deteriorated compared to those on chemotherapy. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

Hartford Funds also has partnerships with institutions such as the MIT AgeLab and other experts to help investors navigate longevity and enhance quality of life to support client advising. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 4 June 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