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

In these and other cases, the use of an outdoor dog chain can be a lifesaver. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Charley was a lifesaver of Dodger baseball for us. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

Suoco Travel Vacuum Bags Vacuum compression bags like these are a lifesaver for overpackers like me. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

Although still in the proof-of-concept stage, the drone can turn out to be a lifesaver on battlefields. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 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