fight-or-flight

adjective

ˈfīt-ər-ˈflīt 

: relating to, being, or causing physiological changes in the body (such as an increase in heart rate or dilation of bronchi) in response to stress

epinephrine is a fight-or-flight hormone

a fight-or-flight reaction

Examples of fight-or-flight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stimulating it, even briefly, can shift your body out of fight-or-flight and into calm. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026

Mayo Clinic Press notes that anxiety triggers labored breathing, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s fight-or-flight wiring. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

Calms the Nervous System Response When anxiety spikes, the body shifts into fight-or-flight mode — and the breathing rate can amplify quickly, among other physical signs. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Chronic stress triggers the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to a steady release of stress hormones like cortisol. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fight-or-flight

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Medical Definition

fight-or-flight

adjective

ˌfī-tər-ˈflīt

: relating to, being, or causing physiological changes in the body (such as an increase in heart rate or dilation of bronchi) in response to stress

the fight-or-flight response