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.
Today, buyers are thinking much more intentionally about lifestyle and quality of life. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The city ranked 140 for its rental market and affordability and 164 for its quality of life. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 31 July 2026 One form of treatment, called menopausal hormone therapy, can address several bothersome symptoms, particularly hot flashes, and can improve quality of life for some patients. — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 To determine the best and worst places for first-time buyers, the personal finance website compared 300 cities nationwide on housing affordability, quality of life and cost of living. — Sacbee.com, 30 July 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
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Cite this Entry

“Quality of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quality%20of%20life. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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