life science: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (Academic and professional contexts), Medium-High (General educated use)Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “life science” mean?
Any of the branches of natural science that deal with living organisms and their life processes, such as biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, and biochemistry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Any of the branches of natural science that deal with living organisms and their life processes, such as biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, and biochemistry.
A collective term for scientific fields focused on the study of living things and their interactions with the environment; often used to distinguish from physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics) and social sciences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both regions use the term identically. The spelling of related compound words may follow regional norms (e.g., 'life-science' with a hyphen sometimes appears in attributive use).
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and professional contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “life science” in a Sentence
study life sciencemajor in life sciencea degree in life sciencea breakthrough in life sciencethe field of life scienceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “life science” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Scientists life-science the organism's genome. (Note: 'Life-science' as a verb is extremely rare and non-standard. Use 'study', 'research', or 'analyse' instead.)
American English
- (No standard verb form exists.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form exists.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form exists.)
adjective
British English
- She secured a life-science research grant.
- The life-science sector is thriving.
American English
- He works for a life science company in Boston.
- Life science applications are diverse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and agricultural technology sectors (e.g., 'Investors are bullish on the life science industry.')
Academic
The primary context, referring to university departments, research fields, and curricula (e.g., 'The Faculty of Life Sciences.')
Everyday
Used when discussing education choices, news about medical/biological discoveries, or career paths (e.g., 'My daughter wants to study a life science.')
Technical
Precise reference to specific disciplines within the broader category (e.g., 'Advances in the life sciences have revolutionized drug discovery.')
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “life science”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “life science”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “life science”
- Using 'life science' as a plural when it's a singular collective noun (e.g., 'Life science are interesting' is incorrect; 'Life science is interesting' is correct).
- Confusing it with 'life skills' (practical abilities for everyday living).
- Misspelling as one word 'lifescience'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a collective field (uncountable), it is singular: 'Life science is fascinating.' When referring to individual disciplines, it is countable: 'Biology and ecology are life sciences.'
'Biology' is a specific life science. 'Life science' is an umbrella term that includes biology along with other fields like botany, zoology, genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry.
Medicine is an applied field that builds upon life sciences. Core life sciences (e.g., physiology, pharmacology) provide the foundational knowledge for medicine, but medicine itself is typically categorized separately as a professional discipline.
Yes, particularly when used as an attributive adjective before a noun (e.g., 'life-science research'). The unhyphenated form ('life science research') is also common. As a standalone noun, it is almost always two words.
Any of the branches of natural science that deal with living organisms and their life processes, such as biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, and biochemistry.
Life science is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Life science: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌsaɪəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌsaɪəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the cutting edge of life science”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LIFE' is what it studies (living things), 'SCIENCE' is how it studies it (the scientific method).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE SCIENCE IS A FOUNDATION (for medicine, agriculture). LIFE SCIENCE IS A MAP (charting the complexities of living systems).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered a core life science?