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.
Commit To Paying Living Wages Across Supply Chains According to the Global Living Wage Coalition, a living wage is the income earned during a standard workweek that enables a worker and their family to maintain a decent standard of living. Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 But the main source of anger is the economy – moribund in both countries, where standards of living are stagnating, or worse, for many citizens. Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025 Global trade based on comparative advantage has advanced our standard of living as well as other countries, until now. Phillip Molnar, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025 The cost of living is low compared to the U.S., offering a high standard of living and no minimum stay requirement, allowing applicants to include family members. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 9 Mar. 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 14 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

standard of living

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

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