life preserver

noun

|Updated on: 1 Jul 2018

Definition of life preserver

1 : a device (such as a life jacket or life buoy) designed to save a person from drowning by providing buoyancy in water

2 chiefly British : blackjack 2

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Recent Examples of life preserver from the Web

What appears to be a life preserver comes to Frank in the form of a song he and Sam have recorded.

— rick bentley, kansascity, "‘Hearts Beat Loud’ delivers a resounding message of love," 14 June 2018
The Wingman Life Jacket from Hyde Sportswear weighs just 1.6 pounds and has a small CO2 cylinder at the neck to turn the vest into a buoyant life preserver.

— sarah hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No deal for Milwaukee startup Hyde Sportswear on 'Shark Tank'," 21 Jan. 2018
The kayaker, who was not wearing a life preserver, decided to swim to shore rather than wait for the kayak to be stabilized, reported Fox 8.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Kayak overturned, so NC man decided to swim to shore. He hasn't been seen since.," 11 June 2018
Police did not say whether the boys had been wearing life preservers.

— shane dixon kavanaugh, OregonLive.com, "Boys who died rafting Oregon river lived for adventures with Dad," 5 June 2018
In 12 of the deaths, the victims were not wearing life preservers, Parker said.

— john d. simmons, charlotteobserver, "Thirteen people died on NC lakes last year. Here's how to stay safe this summer. | Charlotte Observer," 25 May 2018
Why not toss a fresh, new life preserver to your local school, though, while fixing a few thousand potholes in your neighborhood?

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Next step for California in sports betting debate: Cash in," 14 May 2018
The ship turned around and conducted search and rescue operations for Schofield, and life preservers were also thrown in the woman’s direction.

— michael bartiromo, Fox News, "Woman who went overboard on P&O cruise jumped, police say: 'This wasn’t an accident'," 16 Apr. 2018
Drop him in the middle of the ocean without a life preserver, and Harden will find a way to exaggerate contact and get to the line.

— andrew sharp, SI.com, "The Year of James Harden Is All About the NBA Playoffs," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'life preserver.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.