midlife crisis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumSemi-formal to informal. Common in journalism, psychology, and everyday conversation. Rare in highly formal or technical medical writing.
Quick answer
What does “midlife crisis” mean?
A period of emotional turmoil and dramatic life reassessment, often occurring in middle age, characterized by anxiety, regret, and a desire for radical change.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of emotional turmoil and dramatic life reassessment, often occurring in middle age, characterized by anxiety, regret, and a desire for radical change.
A psychological phenomenon, typically associated with individuals between 40-60 years old, where one questions their life choices, achievements, and purpose, sometimes leading to impulsive decisions regarding career, relationships, or appearance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Spelling: 'mid-life' with a hyphen is more common in British English; 'midlife' as one word is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. The stereotype (buying a sports car, having an affair) is equally recognized.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media, but widely used and understood in both cultures.
Grammar
How to Use “midlife crisis” in a Sentence
[Subject] + have/experience/be going through + a midlife crisisa midlife crisis + struck/hit + [Subject][Subject] + is + a classic case of midlife crisisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “midlife crisis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No direct verb form. Use phrases: 'He seems to be midlife-crisising' (highly informal, non-standard).
American English
- No direct verb form. Use phrases: 'He's totally having a midlife crisis right now.'
adverb
British English
- No direct adverb form.
American English
- No direct adverb form.
adjective
British English
- midlife-crisis behaviour
- a midlife-crisis purchase
American English
- midlife crisis behavior
- a midlife crisis car
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a company's period of stagnant growth and risky rebranding. 'The brand is having a midlife crisis, chasing younger consumers.'
Academic
Used in psychology and sociology papers, often in quotes or with critical discussion of its validity as a clinical term.
Everyday
Common in conversation to explain erratic behavior. 'Don't mind Dad buying a motorbike; he's just having a midlife crisis.'
Technical
Not a formal DSM diagnosis. Used descriptively in psychotherapy/counselling contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “midlife crisis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “midlife crisis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “midlife crisis”
- Using as a verb (*He midlife-crisised). Incorrect. Use 'had a midlife crisis'.
- Misspelling as 'midlife-cricis' or 'midlife-crysis'.
- Overusing as a glib explanation for any middle-aged person's new interest.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis in manuals like the DSM-5. It is a popular psychological concept used to describe a common pattern of emotional distress and behavior in middle adulthood.
It is most commonly associated with ages between 40 and 60, with a rough average around 45-55, but this varies greatly by individual and culture.
No, the experience is reported by people of all genders. However, cultural stereotypes and media portrayals have historically focused more on male examples (e.g., buying sports cars).
A midlife crisis revolves around evaluating one's past achievements and future mortality. A quarter-life crisis (ages 20s-30s) typically involves anxiety about choosing life paths, establishing a career, and finding identity in early adulthood.
A period of emotional turmoil and dramatic life reassessment, often occurring in middle age, characterized by anxiety, regret, and a desire for radical change.
Midlife crisis is usually semi-formal to informal. common in journalism, psychology, and everyday conversation. rare in highly formal or technical medical writing. in register.
Midlife crisis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdˈlaɪf ˈkraɪsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdˈlaɪf ˈkraɪsəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He] bought the whole midlife crisis package (sports car, hair transplant, etc.)”
- “Having a "last fling" before it's too late”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MIDdle of LIFE + CRISIS = a crisis about being in the middle of your life.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY, and a midlife crisis is hitting a bad patch of road, getting lost, or wanting a different vehicle.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as a typical symptom of a midlife crisis?