life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 2

3

: a series of stages through which something (such as an individual, culture, or manufactured product) passes during its lifetime

Examples of life cycle in a Sentence

the life cycle of a shark

Recent Examples on the Web

Starting with a funeral procession establishes the life cycles of family and community — not unlike the lesson Clara Williams imparts sitting in a car to her grandniece about where the body in the hearse ahead of them might be going. —Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025

The aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1975 and has a life cycle of approximately 50 years. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025

This, Hoppe said, could rewrite our understanding of Arctic organisms’ life cycles, interactions and energy reserves. —Quanta Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025

Following the buzz: Researchers tracked bees using tiny QR codes glued onto their backs to gain new insights into the insects’ movements and life cycles. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages of form and activity through which a living thing passes from a beginning stage (as an egg) in one individual to the same stage in its offspring

2

: life history sense 1

Medical Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 1a