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

Amy O’Donnell, the executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, sees ultrasounds specifically as literal lifesavers. —Emily Brindley health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026

Fecal transplants, which amount to a hard reset of the gut microbiome, can be a lifesaver for those whose colons have been overrun by toxin-spewing bacteria. —Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026

Self-catering cottages give you the flexibility to make your own meals — a lifesaver with picky eaters — while scenic drives and free access to most of the sweeping clifftop landscapes make for an unforgettable road trip. —Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026

The small chainsaws have been a lifesaver. —Campbell Vaughn, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026

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