life-and-death

adjective

ˈlīf-ən(d)-ˈdeth 

variants or less commonly life-or-death

ˈlīf-ər-ˈdeth 

: involving or culminating in life or death : vitally important as if involving life or death

Examples of life-and-death in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But in the meantime, before all these cosmic, life-and-death questions can be answered, this episode of Lanterns makes for a meaningful memorial to a deeply imperfect hero. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Decisions about traffic signals, speed limits and congestion solutions often come with life-and-death implications. — Bryan Mistele, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

There would be cheers and tears and, for a little while, a family overwhelmed by medical appointments and life-and-death worries would get to think about something else. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 5 Sep. 2026

His costly miscalculation exploded into a life-and-death war fiasco that an incompetent and dishonest administration is now incapable of ending. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-and-death

• beth
• breath
• death
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• neath
• seth
• sheth
• sneath
• shibboleth

Kids Definition

life-and-death

adjective

: ending in life or death : deciding which will survive

a life-and-death struggle