life-threatening

adjective

life-threat·​en·​ing ˈlīf-ˌthre-tᵊn-iŋ 

-ˌthret-niŋ

: capable of causing death : potentially fatal

a life-threatening disease/condition

The injuries are serious but not life-threatening.

Examples of life-threatening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to a GoFundMe supporting Ashley Taunton, a Connecticut mother of three who suffered life-threatening injuries while helping strangers after a car accident in Rhode Island. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026

Her injuries were not life-threatening, according to an Israeli military and Israel Border Police statement. — F. Brinley Bruton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Police responded and found one person suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

This could result in a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening blood clot in the lungs, as well as permanent organ damage or death. — Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

life-threatening

adjective

life-threat·​en·​ing ˈlīf-ˌthret-ən-iŋ 

: capable of causing death : potentially fatal

life-threatening injuries

a life-threatening allergic reaction

life-threatening arrhythmia