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
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.
Their noise and unsightly electric towers affect quality of life. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 The military used to understand that troops’ well-being was central to their ability to perform—and that improving the quality of life for those in the armed forces was not just a nicety, but a necessity. — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 One thing we’re not taken into consideration is the quality of life…. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Mica’s death has been ruled a suicide, although some friends and family in the documentary struggle with that designation when considering her quality of life while married to, then separated from, John-Paul. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quality of life

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quality of life was in 1943

Rhymes for quality of life

See All Rhymes for quality of life

Browse Nearby Words

quality magazine
quality of life
quality point
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quality of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quality%20of%20life. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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