fight-or-flight

adjective

ˈfīt-ər-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

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

The sympathetic nervous system, colloquially known as fight-or-flight, releases hormones and engages nerves quickly and broadly; the parasympathetic nervous system, referred to as rest-and-digest, is slower and more targeted. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 June 2026

That asymmetry creates enormous opportunities for startups facing fight-or-flight moments. —Matt Rogers, Fortune, 30 May 2026

However, sustained stress can trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, impairing the very functions effective leadership requires. —Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Why Meditation Helps Lower Blood Pressure During stressful situations, your sympathetic nervous system triggers the fight-or-flight response. —Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 21 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fight-or-flight

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

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