lifeboat

noun

life·​boat ˈlīf-ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
: a sturdy buoyant boat (such as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially in saving lives at sea

Examples of lifeboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No bodies, no lifeboats, no explanation. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Many vestiges of the ship’s seafaring past remain intact, however, from a claustrophobia-inducing propeller shaft to six original lifeboats hanging from pulleys on either side of the vessel. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025 Now sinking, the NCAA is offloading responsibilities to lifeboats. Jim Martin, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025 An oxygen tank exploded during the April 1970 expedition, significantly damaging the spacecraft and forcing the three-person crew to use the Lunar Module as a lifeboat. EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lifeboat

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifeboat was in 1797

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Cite this Entry

“Lifeboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeboat. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

lifeboat

noun
life·​boat -ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
: a sturdy boat (as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially for saving lives at sea
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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