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

Perhaps the most stark evidence of Robinson’s departure from his fellow South Siders is on the life-and-death issue of whether to retain the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection technology. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Suddenly, residents were getting life-and-death information from a source over which emergency officials had no control. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

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

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