: 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
Best Friends is a national animal welfare organization with animal sanctuaries across the country that provide safe, stable, no-kill shelters for animals in need.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
The owl is one of roughly 1,600 animals — from dogs and cats to horses, pigs, and other wildlife — currently receiving care at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the U.S.'s largest no-kill sanctuary and headquarters of Best Friends Animal Society.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Nov. 2025
The viral clip, posted by user Daniela (@danielascrima), shows the 6-year-old silver Labrador standing quietly in his kennel at Wayside Waifs, a no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
In June, the shelter celebrated its twelfth consecutive month as a no-kill facility.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for no-kill
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.
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
The owl is one of roughly 1,600 animals — from dogs and cats to horses, pigs, and other wildlife — currently receiving care at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the U.S.'s largest no-kill sanctuary and headquarters of Best Friends Animal Society.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Nov. 2025
The viral clip, posted by user Daniela (@danielascrima), shows the 6-year-old silver Labrador standing quietly in his kennel at Wayside Waifs, a no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
In June, the shelter celebrated its twelfth consecutive month as a no-kill facility.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 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 5 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share