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

But the main source of anger is the economy – moribund in both countries, where standards of living are stagnating, or worse, for many citizens. —Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025

Global trade based on comparative advantage has advanced our standard of living as well as other countries, until now. —Phillip Molnar, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025

The cost of living is low compared to the U.S., offering a high standard of living and no minimum stay requirement, allowing applicants to include family members. —Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

The long-term problem comes from a fact about innovation: a small number of people account for a large share of the ideas which improve our standard of living. —Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

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