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
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The loss of life in New Orleans occurred around 3:15 a.m. local time on New Year’s Day when a man driving a pickup truck plowed down Bourbon Street intentionally attacking pedestrians. Rachel McRady, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025 The loss of life and innocence and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024 However, close monitoring will help reduce any chances of loss of life or massive economic damage. natural disasters earth science 1 free article left Want More? Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 Every year, about 300,000 new cases of sickle cell are diagnosed globally, contributing to significant loss of life and strain to fragile health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Unicef Usa, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near loss of life

Cite this Entry

“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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