life's work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "life's work" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a job that someone does for the majority of their life and which is considered their most important accomplishment, for example: John Smith spent his life's work working as a civil rights advocate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe it's everyone's life's work.

The Guardian

For others it's a life's work.

The New York Times

It's his life's work," said an associate.

The Guardian

"It's my life's work," said Lawson.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It's been my life's work," he said.  .

TechCrunch

It's my life and my life's work.

The Guardian

It was his life's work.

The Economist

"This is my life's work".

The New York Times

The land is his life's work.

Independent

It has been his life's work.

The New York Times - Sports

This was their life's work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the apostrophe is placed before the 's' to indicate the singular possessive of 'life'.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly write 'lifes work' without an apostrophe or 'lives work'. Remember that "life's work" is an idiomatic singular unit. If you are tempted to use the compound 'lifework', be aware that while valid, it is much rarer and carries less emotional impact in narrative writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "life's work" functions as a singular compound noun phrase built on a possessive construction. In this structure, "life" acts as the possessor of "work", signifying a task or project that spans the entirety of one's existence. According to Ludwig, this is a standard and highly effective way to identify a person's most important professional or creative contribution.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "life's work" is a robust and evocative phrase that perfectly encapsulates a person's primary contribution to the world. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a high-frequency expression favored by top-tier editorial sources for its ability to convey both duration and depth of commitment. Whether you are writing a biography, a tribute, or a professional profile, using "life's work" provides a sense of gravity and significance that simple synonyms often lack. It is grammatically precise, provided the apostrophe is correctly placed, and serves as a powerful tool for storytelling in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lifetime's work

Virtually interchangeable, emphasizing the duration of the effort.

magnum opus

Refers to a person's single greatest or most renowned achievement, often in art or literature.

life's mission

Shifts the focus from the output to the sense of purpose or calling behind it.

body of work

Describes the collective total of everything created rather than the singular most important task.

oeuvre

A formal, French-derived term for the total work of an artist or writer.

professional legacy

Focuses on the impact left behind after one's career is finished.

lifelong endeavor

Highlights the effort and the process of working on something over many years.

crowning achievement

Specifically denotes the finest or most important moment in a person's career.

greatest contribution

Emphasizes the value added to a field rather than the time spent.

primary vocation

A more technical way to describe a main job or calling.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "life's work"?

Yes, "life's work" is grammatically correct and widely used in professional writing. It functions as a possessive noun phrase. You can see many examples of it in publications like "The New York Times".

What is the difference between "life's work" and "career"?

While a career is a professional path, "life's work" implies a deeper level of commitment and a singular, significant achievement. A person might have a long career in medicine, but finding a specific cure would be their "life's work".

Should it be "life's work" or "lifes work"?

The only correct form is "life's work" with an apostrophe. Without the apostrophe, 'lifes' is not a valid word in this context, as 'lives' is the plural of life.

What is a more formal term for "life's work"?

Depending on the field, you might use a more formal term like "magnum opus" for creative fields or "professional legacy" for business and public service.