ɐ lˈaɪf kˈoːɹs ɪz dᵻfˈaɪnd æz "ɐ sˈiːkwəns ʌv sˈoʊʃəli dᵻfˈaɪnd ᵻvˈɛnts ænd ɹˈoʊlz ðætðɪ ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəl ɛnˈækts ˌoʊvɚ tˈaɪm".
A life course is defined as "a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the individual enacts over time".