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

Seeing the two of them joke around gives me hope for peace on earth, and ultimately this sisterhood — though it’s often buried deep under endless drama and bickering — is the lifeblood of the show. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

What is needed in this production is more risk and unpredictability, the lifeblood of the theater. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

But like it or not, oil is the lifeblood of the global economy. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Officials said spillage sent contamination into the Columbia River, considered the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

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