loss of life

idiomatic phrase

: death
… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of lifeCharles Dickens
: incidences of people dying
In 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

Examples of loss of life in a Sentence

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.
The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful. Melissa Repko, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026 The camera knows when to linger and when to cut away when showing the carnage and loss of life. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026 Kurds, in particular, have decades of experience resisting authoritarian rule and have consistently paid the highest price through repression, imprisonment, and loss of life. Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026 That includes not only explanations and justifications for the officers’ actions but also, where appropriate, apologies and commitments to correct any tactical or administrative problems that led to the loss of life. Laurence Miller, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loss of life

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loss of life was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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