standard of living

American  

noun

1. a grade or level of subsistence and comfort in everyday life enjoyed by a community, class, or individual.

   The well-educated generally have a high standard of living.

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standard of living British  

noun

1. a level of subsistence or material welfare of a community, class, or person

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standard of living Cultural  

1. A term describing the amount of goods and services that an average family or individual views as necessary.

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Etymology

Origin of standard of living

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The idea was that a well-constructed welfare state could deliver the same material standard of living as America’s cowboy capitalism, or better.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

They argue consumers are just running in place; higher inflation means their standard of living isn’t getting any better.

From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026

Extracting oil and gas could be dirty and dangerous but huge profits drove up wages, property prices and the standard of living in north-east Scotland.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

During his lifetime, Malthus’s prediction that more people would necessarily lead to a decline in the standard of living proved incorrect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

It was my time’s technology and standard of living that amazed them most.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs