Lifestyle
/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/noun
A way or manner of living, especially as chosen by a person or group.
Did you know?Unlike words with eerie old roots, lifestyle is a modern compound that became popular in the 20th century, turning ordinary daily choices into a kind of identity spell.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
līf
“life, living existence”
Old English
OE
stile
“a way, manner, or style”
Middle English
ME
life stile
“a manner or style of living”
18th–19th Century
English
lifestyle
“a way of living; a distinctive mode of life”
Modern English
English
lifestyle
“the habits, attitudes, and tastes that define how someone lives”
Explore more surprising origins