noun

midlife

MIHD-lyf

Midlife (noun) means the middle stretch of a person's adult life, roughly around age 40 to 50. Example: “He took up marathon running in midlife.”

noun

The middle stretch of a person's adult life, roughly around age 40 to 50.

"He took up marathon running in midlife."

adj

Happening around the middle of one's life.

"A midlife career change can feel daunting but liberating."

How to use midlife

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe middle years of adulthood, often linked to reassessing one's life and choices.

Common pairings

midlife crisis midlife career change

Word forms

midlives plural

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He took up marathon running in _____.

Etymology

Simply "mid" + "life".

Rhymes for midlife

Ife wife life fife rife knife strife midwife lowlife wildlife penknife housewife

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Frequently asked questions

What does “midlife” mean?

The word “midlife” means the middle stretch of a person's adult life, roughly around age 40 to 50. In plain terms, the middle years of adulthood, often linked to reassessing one's life and choices.

How do you pronounce “midlife”?

“Midlife” is pronounced MIHD-lyf (/ˈmɪdlaɪf/ in IPA).

How do you use “midlife” in a sentence?

Here is “midlife” used in a sentence: “He took up marathon running in midlife.”

What part of speech is “midlife”?

Depending on how it is used, “midlife” can be a noun and an adjective.

How many meanings does “midlife” have?

“Midlife” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the middle stretch of a person's adult life, roughly around age 40 to 50.