: 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
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.
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
Dwindling supplies of lifesaving medication In Tucson, María Chacon has been caring for her son Jesus for almost five years since a car accident at 17 left him unable to breathe on his own. — Mikella Schuettler, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Dwindling supplies of lifesaving medication In Tucson, Arizona, María Chacon has been caring for her son Jesus for almost five years since a car accident at 17 left him unable to breathe on his own. — Mikella Schuettler, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifesaving

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifesaving was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifesaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifesaving. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective
: 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
: 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

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