fact of life

noun phrase

1
: something that exists and must be taken into consideration
2
facts of life plural : the fundamental physiological processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction

Examples of fact of life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And the point of this review is not to apologize for our forecast but to explain that errant snow forecasts like this are still simply a fact of life. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 For many mom-run accounts, comments from men — admiring, suggestive or explicit — are a recurring scourge to be eradicated, or an inescapable fact of life to be ignored. Michael H. Keller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 In hockey, even now is an overwhelmingly white sport, occasional prejudice was such a fact of life that this incident was only one of many — and far from the worst — that Wheeler experienced. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2024 Well, more of a fact of life in some administrations than others. Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2024 Self-protection is a necessary fact of life in this line of work. Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 The wider conflict in the region has been a fact of life since early October of last year. The Editors, National Review, 12 Jan. 2024 Three-quarters of the population has since been pushed below the poverty line, and shortages, power cuts, and surging prices have become facts of life. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023 There was a time when the Chamber accepted labor unions as a fact of life. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fact of life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fact of life was circa 1806

Dictionary Entries Near fact of life

Cite this Entry

“Fact of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fact%20of%20life. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fact of life

noun
1
: something that exists and must be taken into consideration
tests are a fact of life for students
2
plural : the basic bodily processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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