loss of life

phrase

: death

… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of life …

—Charles 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

Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Valle del Cauca and Risaralda have suffered the greatest loss of life. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Major hurricanes can cause wind damage ranging from devastating to catastrophic and significant loss of life from their winds alone. — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026

Systemic racism, including historical redlining and inequitable housing policies contributed to poorer health outcomes and increased loss of life among the county’s Black residents, according to that report. — Sofi Zeman august 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for loss of life

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife