fact of life

American  

noun

1. any aspect of human existence that must be acknowledged or regarded as unalterable.

   Old age is a fact of life.

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idioms

1. facts of life, the facts concerning sex, reproduction, and birth.

   to teach children the facts of life.

Etymology

Origin of fact of life

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fact of life

Leaders of other countries went to him, a well-recognized fact of life in the United States Senate, when they needed something.

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

The FSS also issued a “consumer warning” last week to remind investors that “with stock market volatility increasing” sharp price changes are a new fact of life.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

"That is a fact of life the US and others will have to adapt to in how they plan and conduct military operations."

From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026

Neither seems to notice that the most astonishing, extraordinary fact of life is our existence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025

The biologic science of recent years has been making this a more urgent fact of life.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas