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

Now, there are dozens because of young couples living and raising children in the apartment buildings that rose despite the same opposition from the same people who opposed Mizner Park, the lifeblood of the city. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026

One official claimed that the administration has weighed easing the sanctions on Iran’s oil exports—the lifeblood of its economy—to reduce the spike in oil prices the war has brought. —Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026

And corporate profits are the lifeblood of stock markets. —Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026

Iran’s decision to expands its attacks to major regional oil infrastructure adds a new element to the war gripping the Middle East, directly targeting the lifeblood of the area’s economy. —Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 2 Mar. 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