midlife crisis

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noun
  1. a period of psychological stress occurring in middle age, thought to be triggered by a physical, occupational, or domestic event, as menopause, diminution of physical prowess, job loss, or departure of children from the home.

Origin of midlife crisis

1
First recorded in 1970–75

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use midlife crisis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for midlife crisis

midlife crisis

/ (ˈmɪdˌlaɪf) /


noun
  1. a crisis that may be experienced in middle age involving frustration, panic, and feelings of pointlessness, sometimes resulting in radical and often ill-advised changes of lifestyle

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