work-life balance

American

[wurk-lahyf bal-uhns] / ˈwɜrkˈlaɪf ˌbæl əns /

Or work/life balance

noun

a situation in which one divides or balances one's time between work and activities outside of work.

It's hard to achieve a reasonable work-life balance when you run your own business.

Etymology

Origin of work-life balance

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And U.S. companies still generally offer much higher pay and better work-life balance than Chinese competitors.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Timaru has become a magnet for medical workers fed up with the American healthcare system and seeking better work-life balance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

He once admitted to me that he was "not much of a role model" for work-life balance.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Due to these savings and improved work-life balance, “I will only take roles that are 100% remote now,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

"We cannot maintain prosperity with a four-day week and work-life balance," he has told them.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023