: relating to, being, or causing physiological changes in the body (such as an increase in heart rate or dilation of bronchi) in response to stress
epinephrine is a fight-or-flight hormone
a fight-or-flight reaction

Examples of fight-or-flight 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.
This is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025 The sympathetic system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic system activates the body’s rest-and-digest mode. Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025 Peak performance happens in flow states, not fight-or-flight responses. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 The brain switches to fight-or-flight and survival mode, and the person is always waiting for something terrible to happen. Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fight-or-flight

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fight-or-flight was in 1973

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Cite this Entry

“Fight-or-flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight-or-flight. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

fight-or-flight

adjective
ˌfī-tər-ˈflīt
: relating to, being, or causing physiological changes in the body (such as an increase in heart rate or dilation of bronchi) in response to stress
the fight-or-flight response
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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