1
: a person sentenced to imprisonment for life
2
: a person who makes a career of one of the armed forces
3
: a person who has made a lifelong commitment (as to a way of life)
Examples of lifer in a Sentence
He was a lifer at the factory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ramji’s entry was smoothed by the fact the top job was split three ways: longtime director Mark Loughridge, a former IBM CFO, took over as board chairman, while Vanguard lifer Greg Davis stayed on as president.
—
Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
As the sweat dripped down Venturi’s face at Grand Park, The Athletic shadowed the football lifer during his 43rd training camp.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Teammate Courtland Sutton, the Denver lifer, had agreed to terms on a four-year extension.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 July 2025
Many states expressly bar lifers, and virtual lifers, from rehabilitation programs, college education, and any opportunity beyond their cells, favoring those who will one day be released into society and might contribute to it.
—Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lifer
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Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
As the sweat dripped down Venturi’s face at Grand Park, The Athletic shadowed the football lifer during his 43rd training camp.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Teammate Courtland Sutton, the Denver lifer, had agreed to terms on a four-year extension.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 July 2025
Many states expressly bar lifers, and virtual lifers, from rehabilitation programs, college education, and any opportunity beyond their cells, favoring those who will one day be released into society and might contribute to it.
—Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lifer
Cite this Entry
“Lifer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifer. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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