lifer

noun

lif·​er ˈlī-fər How to pronounce lifer (audio)
Synonyms of lifernext
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
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.
It was bound to be an emotional morning for anyone who loves hockey, and especially proud for a Connecticut and New England rink lifer like Mike Cavanaugh. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026 Llobet played tons of DIY gigs with a rotating cast of friends over the years that followed, but no one completed youbet quite like Prussack, a New Jersey native and fellow rock lifer. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026 Their legacies in South Florida as essentially Dolphins lifers also put them in a class of their own. Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026 Prosecutors argued Levao already qualified for parole under a state law that took effect in 2014 and pointed to data showing many lifers are eventually found suitable for release. Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifer

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifer was in 1827

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifer. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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