lifesaver

noun

life·​sav·​er ˈlīf-ˌsā-vər 

1

: one trained to save lives of drowning persons

2

: one that is at once timely and effective in time of distress or need

Examples of lifesaver in a Sentence

a surgical procedure that has been a lifesaver for many people

This multipurpose tool can be a real lifesaver when something needs fixing.

Frozen dinners can be lifesavers for busy parents.

Thanks so much for offering to help. You're a real lifesaver!

Recent Examples on the Web

So, to minimize the likelihood of worrying about how to stay connected, a portable phone charger is a lifesaver. —Essence, 16 June 2025

This $14 lifesaver evens my skin tone out just enough to give me a nice base for the rest of my makeup to sit on without looking streaky at the end of the day. —Katie Akin, Southern Living, 31 May 2025

Amazon reviewers rave about this piece of gear, reporting that it’s been a literal lifesaver on trips where they got lost or ran out of water in the middle of nowhere. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025

In my case, I was blessed by being raised by my mother more than my father, and that was a lifesaver. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lifesaver

• ritonavir
• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver
• paver
• quaver
• raver

Kids Definition

lifesaver

noun

life·​sav·​er ˈlīf-ˌsā-vər 

1

: a person trained to save the lives of drowning persons

2

: something that relieves distress when most needed