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

It should also be measured by whether Florida can continue to provide the services, opportunities and quality of life that make our communities places where people want to live. — Julie Price, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Hochul has the opportunity to define a bold abundance agenda that changes incentives for investment while improving the quality of life for working families. — John Avlon, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026

The researchers found that how engulfed participants felt predicted their quality of life more strongly than how severe their symptoms were. — Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026

Preliminary research suggests qigong may help improve mood, cognitive functioning, immunity and pain, with potential benefits for heart health and overall quality of life, according to VeryWell Mind. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quality of life

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