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
Some 9,500 people died as a result, the worst loss of life in a single maritime disaster.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
And even with the tremendous loss of life — the Union Army suffered more than 23,000 casualties over three days of battle — the Northern public would be reinvigorated by victory, ready to continue the fight.
—Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
The wildfire destroyed homes and damaged dozens of structures before Cal Fire crews stopped it from spreading into the Kelly Ridge area, where authorities feared a significant loss of life.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The loss of life felt true even before official confirmation days later.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loss of life
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Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
And even with the tremendous loss of life — the Union Army suffered more than 23,000 casualties over three days of battle — the Northern public would be reinvigorated by victory, ready to continue the fight.
—Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
The wildfire destroyed homes and damaged dozens of structures before Cal Fire crews stopped it from spreading into the Kelly Ridge area, where authorities feared a significant loss of life.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The loss of life felt true even before official confirmation days later.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
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 7 Feb. 2026.
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