lifestyle

American  

[lahyf-stahyl] / ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl /

Or life style,

noun

lifestyles plural

1. the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or catering to a certain lifestyle.

   unhealthy lifestyle choices; lifestyle advertising; a luxury lifestyle hotel.

2. (of a drug) used to treat a medical condition that is not life-threatening or painful.

   lifestyle drugs for baldness.

lifestyle British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl /

noun

1. a set of attitudes, habits, or possessions associated with a particular person or group

2. such attitudes, etc, regarded as fashionable or desirable

3. 1. a luxurious semirural manner of living

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lifestyle property

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adjective

1. suggestive of a fashionable or desirable lifestyle

   a lifestyle café

2. (of a drug) designed to treat problems, such as impotence or excess weight, which affect a person's quality of life rather than his or her health

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lifestyles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lifestyle

First recorded in 1925–30; life + style

Explanation

Your lifestyle is how you live, and it reflects who you are. You might try to look cool by adopting a rock star lifestyle of partying every night and sleeping all day, but you'd probably get pretty tired. A lifestyle can also reflect your attitude or your personal values. For example, you might have a very conservative lifestyle, which means you don't spend money on anything trivial or unnecessary, and you don't engage in silly activities. A glamorous lifestyle means you indulge in upscale, high-profile pursuits and live luxuriously. If you've got some bad habits, your doctor might encourage you to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and get more exercise and eat more carefully.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lifestyle lifestyles

Tristan is from a long line of sheep farmers and said farming was more like a lifestyle than a job.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Since the theory was introduced, some physicians, including pediatricians, have treated the pattern as a meaningful warning sign that might be prevented or modified through diet and lifestyle changes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

Auden’s wit and precision in poetry stood in sharp contrast to his chaotic lifestyle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Blake’s motive, authorities said, was to win custody of his daughter from a woman whose lifestyle he found abhorrent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

A lot of Muslim women find it difficult to lead an active lifestyle while adhering to their religious principles around modesty, with most gyms being coed and workout wear being formfitting.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Since then, they have spread into an astonishing range of habitats and lifestyles.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

News in March, the actor said that being able to spend time in both locales had been wonderful for his children, because it effectively gave them a real taste of two totally different lifestyles.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

Haynes, coupled with a fearless Julianne Moore, took down ’80s AIDS-era apathy and vapid Valley lifestyles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

"The stress of looking after children, while working from home and then being able to afford healthy food as inflation increased, has made healthier lifestyles more difficult," he added.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

I had never seen the kind of garage setup that the Nguyens have going, and looking at this place, I understand that there are clearly whole lifestyles that have been kept from me.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

• behavior