life history: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “life history” mean?
The sequence of events and stages that make up the complete existence of a living organism, from birth to death.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sequence of events and stages that make up the complete existence of a living organism, from birth to death.
A detailed chronological account or narrative of the events, circumstances, and personal developments in a person's or organism's life; used in biology, sociology, and biography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the compound noun identically.
Connotations
In academic UK English, slightly more common in ecological/biological contexts. In US English, also frequent in social sciences and biographical studies.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties within formal/academic registers.
Grammar
How to Use “life history” in a Sentence
the life history of [someone/something]to trace/reconstruct the life historya life history marked by [significant events]life history analysisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “life history” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researcher sought to life-history the participant through interviews. (rare, technical)
American English
- The project aims to life-history the entire cohort. (rare, technical)
adverb
British English
- The study was conducted life-historically. (extremely rare)
American English
- They analyzed the data life-historically. (extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- The life-history approach provides rich qualitative data.
- Life-history traits vary widely.
American English
- Life-history data is crucial for the model.
- A life-history perspective was adopted.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in HR: 'The candidate's life history was considered for cultural fit.'
Academic
Common in biology, ecology, sociology, and history: 'The study compared the life history traits of two insect species.'
Everyday
Used in formal conversation about people's backgrounds: 'She shared her life history with the group.'
Technical
Specific in biology: 'Life history strategy involves trade-offs between reproduction and survival.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “life history”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “life history”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “life history”
- Using it as a synonym for 'lifetime' (e.g., 'Over my life history, I...' - incorrect).
- Using plural 'lifes histories' instead of 'life histories'.
- Confusing with 'family history'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Biography' is more common for published works about notable people. 'Life history' often implies a more formal, researched, or scientific record, and can be used for any organism, not just humans.
Yes, e.g., 'The life histories of the survivors were collected and compared.'
'Background' is broader and vaguer, encompassing education, family, and social context. 'Life history' is more specific and chronological, implying a sequenced narrative of key life events.
It is primarily a formal or academic term. In everyday conversation, 'life story' is more natural.
The sequence of events and stages that make up the complete existence of a living organism, from birth to death.
Life history: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌhɪs.tər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌhɪs.tɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A life history of hardship.”
- “To have a chequered life history.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LIFE (your existence) + HISTORY (the recorded story of it). It's the 'history book' of a life.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIFE IS A BOOK / A JOURNEY. 'Life history' frames a life as a documented narrative with chapters and events.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'life history' LEAST likely to be used?