loss of life

idiomatic phrase

: death
… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of lifeCharles Dickens
: incidences of people dying
In 1900 a hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, destroying the city and killing over 6,000 persons—the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster ever recorded in the United States.David H. Hickcox

Examples of loss of life 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.
Dealing with emergencies under the law To be sure, swift action is often necessary in an actual emergency to prevent loss of life or property damage. Albert C. Lin, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2025 Companies would be more averse to potential legal action related to loss of life, injury or property damage. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 Aid groups and advocates have been raising alarms that cuts to USAID's programs would lead to loss of life, particularly in humanitarian crisis zones such as Sudan, where over 1,000 food aid kitchens supported by USAID have closed amid widespread starvation. Frank Langfitt, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025 Such practices — and the subsequent loss of life — led the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in 2019 to establish statewide Alert and Warning Guidelines. Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loss of life

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loss of life was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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