1
: a line (such as a rope) used for saving or preserving life: such as
a
: a line along the outer edge of the deck of a boat or ship
b
: a line used to keep contact with a person (such as a diver or astronaut) in a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation
2
: something regarded as indispensable for the maintaining or protection of life
Examples of lifeline in a Sentence
The river is the town's lifeline.
The new jobs were an economic lifeline for a city in need of help.
The radio was their lifeline to the outside world.
They threw a lifeline to the man overboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Enacted in March 2020, the PPP loan program served as a financial lifeline that kept afloat millions of businesses that struggled economically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—
Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 15 Dec. 2025
This weekend the Merry Market is turning holiday shopping into a lifeline for families on the South Shore of Massachusetts facing financial hardship.
—Breana Pitts, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Amid these challenges, exports have become an economic lifeline, one of the few reliable sources of growth at a time when Beijing remains reluctant to unleash a major stimulus program.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
In shallow and home leagues, the waiver wire remains a lifeline to some potential lineup gaps.
—Shawn Childs, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lifeline
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Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 15 Dec. 2025
This weekend the Merry Market is turning holiday shopping into a lifeline for families on the South Shore of Massachusetts facing financial hardship.
—Breana Pitts, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Amid these challenges, exports have become an economic lifeline, one of the few reliable sources of growth at a time when Beijing remains reluctant to unleash a major stimulus program.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
In shallow and home leagues, the waiver wire remains a lifeline to some potential lineup gaps.
—Shawn Childs, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lifeline
Cite this Entry
“Lifeline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeline. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lifeline
noun
life·line
ˈlī-ˌflīn 
1
: a line persons may hang on to for safety or rescue
2
: something providing help or support that is needed for success or survival
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