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

Innovation is the lifeblood of progress, and nowhere is this more evident than in the critical efforts to address energy security, modernize infrastructure for efficiency and resilience, and strengthen global supply chains. —Seth Darling, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Clear communication is the lifeblood of successful personal and professional relationships. —Matt Abrahams, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025

United’s lifeblood is youth, and these circumstances should ensure the run of consecutive games including an academy player in the first-team squad will continue. —Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025

These grants are the lifeblood of biomedical research in the US. —Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025

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