living will

noun

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of living will

: a document in which the signer requests to be allowed to die rather than be kept alive by artificial means if disabled beyond a reasonable expectation of recovery — compare advance directive

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Recent Examples of living will from the Web

The more mechanized our future, Ms. Singh suggests, the more precious our connections with the living will be.

— sam sacks, WSJ, "Fiction Chronicle: Under the Big, Sad Sky," 2 Mar. 2018
The woman's attorney says the deputies were subsequently granted power of attorney and named agents on her living will.

— Fox News, "2 California deputies under investigation for elder abuse," 16 Mar. 2018
Many green urban planners remain skeptical that this experiment in sustainable living will be able to achieve the kind of eco-haven that Mr. Kitson is proposing.

— eva botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, "In the Sunshine State, a vision for a sustainable town," 13 Mar. 2018
Being based in Houston will actually be even better for The Bailey House: The bus system will make transportation easier for veterans, the lower cost of living will give Mode access to better grants, and there's even a VA hospital nearby.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "No, That Abandoned Texas Mansion Is Not Becoming a Veteran's Facility," 19 June 2017
The law permits Italians to write living wills and refuse medical treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration.

— elisabetta povoledo, New York Times, "Italy to Allow Living Wills and the Refusal of End-of-Life Care," 14 Dec. 2017
All eight firms must refile their next living wills by July 1, 2019.

— ryan tracy, WSJ, "Big U.S. Banks Get Satisfactory Grades on ‘Living Wills’," 19 Dec. 2017
These include a will, a power of attorney, a living will, and a health-care proxy.

— selena maranjian, USA TODAY, "Personal finance: 15 smart things you can do with $1,000 right now," 7 Oct. 2017
Now is the time for your parent to choose a residential retirement care provider, to designate his or her medical, legal and financial powers of attorney, and to complete a living will or advance care directive.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Your first 4 steps after mom or dad is diagnosed with dementia," 19 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'living will.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of living will

1969

LIVING WILL Defined for English Language Learners

living will

noun

Definition of living will for English Language Learners

law : a document in which you say what medical decisions should be made if you become too sick or injured to make those decisions

Medical Dictionary

living will

noun

medical Definition of living will

: a document in which the signer requests to be allowed to die rather than be kept alive by artificial means in the event of becoming disabled beyond a reasonable expectation of recovery — see advance directive

Law Dictionary

living will

noun liv·ing will

legal Definition of living will

: a document in which the signer indicates preferences or directions for the administration and especially the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining medical treatment in the event of terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness — see also advance directive — compare health care power of attorney at power of attorney

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living will

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living will

Definition of living will for English Language Learners

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living will

medical Definition of living will

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living will

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