life cycle

noun

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

: life history sense 2

: 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

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.

The team used projections of emissions throughout the life cycle of batteries used for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage through 2050. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 At large scale, autonomous management may require additional orchestration for provisioning, capacity, data placement and life cycle policies. — Paul Speciale, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 In the bathroom, Steele placed a pair of Prada shoes and a white Prada bag with a water fountain installed in each as a statement on the life cycle of grief. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 In 2024, Alaska and Canada instated a seven-year ban on Chinook fishing along the Yukon River — one full salmon life cycle — to give depleted populations a chance to rebuild. — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for life cycle

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of life cycle was in 1855

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Life cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20cycle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

life cycle

noun

: 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

: life history sense 1

Medical Definition

life cycle

noun

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

: life history sense 1a

life cycle

noun

Examples of life cycle in a Sentence

Word History

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life cycle

noun

Examples of life cycle in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for life cycle

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on life cycle

More from Merriam-Webster

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Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

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