Standard Lemma guide

once-in-a-lifetime

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime; extremely rare.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: of a lifetime

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 千載難逢 /千载难逢 (qiānzǎinánféng) — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime
  • Finnish: ainutlaatuinen — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime
  • French: du siècle — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime
  • French: qui ne se présente qu'une fois — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime
  • Hebrew: של פעם בחיים (shél pá'am b'khayím) — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime
  • Italian: più unico che raro — Likely to happen only once in one's lifetime