life-support

1 of 2

adjective

life-sup·​port ˈlīf-sə-ˈpȯrt How to pronounce life-support (audio)
: providing support necessary to sustain life
especially : of or relating to a system providing such support
life-support equipment

life support

2 of 2

noun

: medical equipment, treatments, or medications that temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
The patient was placed on life support.
A mechanical pump that was invented as a temporary life support for patients with advanced heart failure is emerging as a potential tool to help hearts heal and function for the long term on their own.Ron Winslow
The current pediatric and adult life support recommendations suggest an epinephrine administration interval … of 3–5 minutes during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Donald H. Shaffner and Clifton W. Callaway

Example Sentences

Noun He was removed from life support. She was put on life support. equipment providing life support for astronauts
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Not only will the 3.8-meter-wide Haven-1 module launch inside a Falcon 9 rocket, but part of its life-support systems will also be provided by the Crew Dragon spacecraft when the vehicle is docked. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 10 May 2023 Mountaineering rangers brought along life-support equipment used to rescue avalanche survivors, the park service said. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 6 May 2023 At its core is Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson), a technical genius who keeps the silo’s life-support systems functioning, who begins asking probing and uncomfortable questions after a personal loss involving a mysterious death. Brian Lowry, CNN, 5 May 2023 Buildings and communities function as life-support systems. William Mcdonough, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Even before the pandemic put a pause on in-person gatherings, the Electronic Entertainment Expo was already on life-support as the larger developers had already put distance between themselves and the event to focus on their own presentations on their own time. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 30 Mar. 2023
Noun
Hernandez spent three weeks in a coma on life support, went through several surgeries, and was hospitalized for three months before being discharged using a wheelchair. Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2023 The economy is on life support, the government’s budget heavily dependent on Western grants and loans. Tim Lister, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023 During Covid-19 lockdowns, businesses everywhere found themselves on life support. Matthew Dunlap, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 Once at the hospital, Woods was placed on life support, according to schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 8 Feb. 2023 But, with both of those matters stalled and little hope of any resumption in negotiations, the administration is attempting just to keep the concepts on life support. Matthew Lee, ajc, 30 Jan. 2023 But with both of those matters stalled and little hope of any resumption of negotiations, the administration is attempting just to keep the concepts on life support. Matthew Lee, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2023 Fraternity members dumped Brennan at a hospital, where he was placed on life support and given a 1 percent chance of survival, the complaint alleges. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023 After initially being given little chance to live and spending a month on life support, Moldovan began to recover at a rehabilitation center and returned home for the first time since being shot in June 2022. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life-support.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1959, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life-support was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near life-support

lifestyle

life-support

life support

Cite this Entry

“Life-support.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-support. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Medical Definition

life-support

1 of 2 adjective
: providing support necessary to sustain life
especially : of, relating to, or being a life-support system
life-support equipment

life support

2 of 2 noun
: medical equipment, treatments, or medications used to temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
Because of the multiplicity of drugs administered in advanced life support, assessment of response to calcium alone is difficult.Journal of the American Medical Association
Extracorporeal life support … is used to support the circulation of a patient with severe cardiac failure. The physiologic objective is to provide temporary circulatory support to the vital organs and to unload the failing heart as the injured myocardium attempts to recover.Massimo Massetti et al., The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Most of the patients from whom support was withheld or withdrawn had intracranial lesions, usually the result of trauma. A poor prognosis or brain death prompted the withholding or withdrawal of life support in most patients.Nicholas G. Smedira et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!