lifesaving

1 of 2

adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ 

: designed for or used in saving lives

lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2

noun

: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons

Examples of lifesaving in a Sentence

Noun

All lifeguards are trained in lifesaving.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Regarding money management, few things are more lifesaving than an emergency fund. — Nia Bowers, Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 2024

Simulations are used to discover new lifesaving drugs, to model the future of climate change and to explore the behavior of colliding galaxies — as well as the physics of hypersonic missiles and nuclear explosions. — Alex W. Palmer, New York Times, 12 July 2023

Noun

Rumors claim that the virus is a hoax, that health workers are profiting from the outbreak or that hospitals are withholding lifesaving treatments. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Nsanzimana says the government had to redirect limited resources to keep some lifesaving programs running. — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lifesaving

• autoclaving
• misbehaving
• behaving
• engraving
• enslaving
• repaving
• braving
• caving
• craving
• graving
• laving
• paving

Kids Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ 

: designed for or used in saving lives

livesaving devices

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun

: the methods that can be used to save lives especially of drowning persons

Medical Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ 

: designed for or used in saving lives

lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun

: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons