: designed for or used in saving lives
lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2

noun

: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons

Examples of lifesaving in a Sentence

Noun All lifeguards are trained in lifesaving.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Regarding money management, few things are more lifesaving than an emergency fund. Nia Bowers, Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 2024 Some rabbis, evangelical church leaders and imams have also worked to debunk misinformation about vaccines and endorse them as safe and lifesaving. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2021
Noun
Police said that despite lifesaving measures by officers and medics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. CBS News, 29 June 2026 First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifesaving

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifesaving was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifesaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifesaving. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective
: designed for or used in saving lives
livesaving devices

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun
: the methods that can be used to save lives especially of drowning persons

Medical Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective
: designed for or used in saving lives
lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun
: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons

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