: having or being a policy that prohibits killing
a no-kill fishing tournament
especially
: having or being a policy that prohibits or severely limits the euthanizing of animals in a shelter
"I will spare no expense on veterinary care for our pets," says Renee, who has nine cats and is on the board of a no-kill shelter. —
Catherine Fredman
Catherine Fredman … shelters can euthanize up to 10 percent of their animals for reasons of health and temperament, and still be considered "no-kill." —Greg Allen
Greg Allen Examples of no-kill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In June, the shelter celebrated its twelfth consecutive month as a no-kill facility.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
One of the vehicles in the crash was an animal transportation van that belonged to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, Georgia's largest no-kill animal shelter, according to their website.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
The current no-kill policy limits when veterinary staff can euthanize animals — with the procedures allowed when an animal is deemed too sick or dangerous to live.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Following numerous complaints and an uptick in animal deaths that resulted in the shelter losing its no-kill designation, public officials had called for an objective review of the shelter’s operations.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for no-kill
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Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
One of the vehicles in the crash was an animal transportation van that belonged to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, Georgia's largest no-kill animal shelter, according to their website.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
The current no-kill policy limits when veterinary staff can euthanize animals — with the procedures allowed when an animal is deemed too sick or dangerous to live.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Following numerous complaints and an uptick in animal deaths that resulted in the shelter losing its no-kill designation, public officials had called for an objective review of the shelter’s operations.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for no-kill
Cite this Entry
“No-kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no-kill. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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