loss of life
idiomatic phrase
: death
… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of life …—
Charles Dickens
: incidences of people dying
Charles DickensIn 1900 a hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, destroying the city and killing over 6,000 persons—the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster ever recorded in the United States.—David H. Hickcox
David H. HickcoxExamples of loss of life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In late November, three consecutive cyclones—Koto, Senyar and Ditwah—set off widespread flooding and landslides across South and Southeast Asia, causing severe loss of life and major disruptions to supply chain infrastructure.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
The operation ended without any loss of life from the American side, though Venezuela’s interior minister said 100 people died in the attack, possibly including Cuban military and intelligence personnel, who assist Venezuela.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Three thousand and two hundred of them ended with serious injuries or loss of life.
—Carol Thompson, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
Two people were killed and several others injured in a fiery crash in Mesa, with officers assisting others out of a burning vehicle to prevent more loss of life, police said.
—The Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loss of life
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Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
The operation ended without any loss of life from the American side, though Venezuela’s interior minister said 100 people died in the attack, possibly including Cuban military and intelligence personnel, who assist Venezuela.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Three thousand and two hundred of them ended with serious injuries or loss of life.
—Carol Thompson, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
Two people were killed and several others injured in a fiery crash in Mesa, with officers assisting others out of a burning vehicle to prevent more loss of life, police said.
—The Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loss of life
Cite this Entry
“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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