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

People are seeking personalized experiences and a sense of community that together enhances their quality of life, whether through close proximity to shops and restaurants or easy access to artistic, cultural and other recreational pursuits. —Jean Paul Wardy, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Nevertheless, the administrator is a critical player in maintaining a quality of life that Americans now expect the government to safeguard and preserve for future generations. —Stan Meiburg, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025

According to a Walton Family Foundation survey conducted last year, three-fifths of Americans say that climate impacts and costs are undermining their quality of life, public safety, health, or family finances. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Following that awkward night in January, the County Commission ignored the threat of litigation until the Good Neighbor Council finally filed suit late in February, claiming their property values and quality of life were being compromised. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above