lifeblood

noun

life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd 

-ˌbləd

1

: blood regarded as the seat of vitality

2

: a vital or life-giving force or component

freedom of inquiry is the lifeblood of a university

Examples of lifeblood in a Sentence

The town's lifeblood has always been its fishing industry.

The neighborhoods are the lifeblood of this city.

the lifeblood that flows through his veins

Recent Examples on the Web

Exclusive rights to offer gaming in California, for example, are the lifeblood of the economies of many tribal groups. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026

Needless to say, these attacks targeting the Gulf Arab states constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, directly threaten the lifeblood of the global economy, and international energy security. —Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026

The state funding formula is the lifeblood of most public school budgets. —Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoman, 25 Mar. 2026

Oil became the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for 87 percent of its foreign revenues. —Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lifeblood

• waterflood
• blood
• bud
• crud
• dud
• flood
• mud
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud

Kids Definition

lifeblood

noun

life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd 

: something that gives strength and energy