standard of living

noun phrase

1

: the necessities, comforts, and luxuries enjoyed or aspired to by an individual or group

2

: a minimum of necessities, comforts, or luxuries held essential to maintaining a person or group in customary or proper status or circumstances

Examples of standard of living in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rest assured, the New York State AFL-CIO will lead the fight every single day to raise the standard of living and quality of life of all working people. — Mario Cilento, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

When the 12-hour dockyard shifts were reduced to 10-hour, workers felt their already precarious standards of living threatened. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 24 Aug. 2026

Americans, especially younger and future generations, will feel the loss with a lower standard of living. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Idaho’s strong economy and high standard of living has been capturing the attention of national publications. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for standard of living

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

standard of living

: the necessities, comforts, and luxuries that a person or group is accustomed to