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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Drug discovery — that, of course, is very important, with life-and-death consequences. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024 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 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 21 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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