fact of life

noun phrase

1

: something that exists and must be taken into consideration

2

facts of life plural : the fundamental physiological processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction

Examples of fact of life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Growth had been a fact of life in California and San Diego for decades, but the region's population flatlined in recent years as the high cost of living forced people out and challenged leaders to tell a new story of the local economy. —Andrew Keatts, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025

Sugar cravings in general are a normal and natural experience—a fact of life, really. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 12 Mar. 2025

Tommy pulls up to the behemoth and explains the petro facts of life in a speech that could have been cribbed from the American Petroleum Institute’s website. —Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025

This fact of life discomforts those who refuse to accept the existence of consequences and the politicians whose careers thrive on the delusion that compromise is for the weak. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fact of life

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife

Kids Definition

fact of life

noun

1

: something that exists and must be taken into consideration

tests are a fact of life for students

2

plural : the basic bodily processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction