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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The townspeople’s friendships, romances, and enmities are tangible ways to understand what’s going on here, and their complex bonds help amplify the show’s life-and-death stakes. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 There are all the hallmarks of the Spanish master: sumptuous interiors splashed with vibrant colors; rich, wordy roles for layered female characters; life-and-death stakes woven into the fabric of the everyday. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for life-and-death 

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 7 Nov. 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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