lifeblood

noun

life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd 

-ˌbləd

1

: blood regarded as the seat of vitality

2

: a vital or life-giving force or component

freedom of inquiry is the lifeblood of a university

Examples of lifeblood in a Sentence

The town's lifeblood has always been its fishing industry.

The neighborhoods are the lifeblood of this city.

the lifeblood that flows through his veins

Recent Examples on the Web

This presents an existential threat to the lifeblood of economies, particularly across the Mediterranean. —Taco Engelaar, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2025

Its revenues from the sale of oil and gas, the lifeblood of its economy, collapsed by 28% in July. —Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025

That individual, player or otherwise, cannot suck oxygen from the lifeblood of what has helped the Celtics become 18-time champions. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

The unmindful construction planning, noise and light pollution, and Tesla traffic jams have meanwhile done nothing to endear the diner to those living nearby — the lifeblood of most successful restaurants — and anti-Musk demonstrators are organizing a series of protests at the location. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lifeblood

• waterflood
• blood
• bud
• crud
• dud
• flood
• mud
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud

Kids Definition

lifeblood

noun

life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd 

: something that gives strength and energy