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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That will be really bad for people's standard of living. Selina Wang, ABC News, 4 July 2025 In fact, research from Bowling Green State University shows that wives who divorce after age 50 experience an average drop of 45% in their standard of living, compared to just a 21% drop for husbands of the same age. Amy Wagner, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The left-hand side of the chart below shows that credit card balances are at record levels as consumers try to maintain their standard of living (Charge it now – worry about paying for it later!). Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Our immigration facilities are monitored very closely by our government partners at ICE, and they are required to undergo regular review and audit processes to ensure an appropriate standard of living and care for all detainees. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for standard of living

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of standard of living was in 1825

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Cite this Entry

“Standard of living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard%20of%20living. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

standard of living

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

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