variants or less commonly life-or-death
: involving or culminating in life or death : vitally important as if involving life or death

Examples of life-and-death in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The life-and-death drama played out in the heart of country music. Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024 Scientists have also suspected that those species’ role is so important that their loss could have life-and-death consequences for human beings. Dylan Scott, Vox, 2 Aug. 2024 The whole-of-government DEI push has rippling effects outside the Secret Service — while still affecting life-and-death situations. Breccan F. Thies, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 July 2024 Energy reliability is a life-and-death issue in the heat of the summer. Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for life-and-death 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life-and-death.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life-and-death was in 1804

Dictionary Entries Near life-and-death

Cite this Entry

“Life-and-death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-and-death. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

life-and-death

adjective
: ending in life or death : deciding which will survive
a life-and-death struggle

More from Merriam-Webster on life-and-death

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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