LIFE-AND-DEATH Definition & Meaning

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life-and-death

[ lahyf-uhn-deth ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

ending with the death or possible death of one of the participants; crucially important:
The cobra was engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the mongoose.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of life-and-death¹

First recorded in 1680–90

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Idioms and Phrases

see matter of life and death .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It’s actually a reflection of a disturbing failure: Our government does not properly alert people about disasters, with life-and-death consequences.

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There’s nothing like a life-and-death situation turning out “life” to moisten one’s eyes, especially if you or a loved one has spent any time in the medical system, or feared the possibility.

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If we are gamifying life-and-death issues, it could really negatively influence culture and society in a way we don’t like.”

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So you have an awareness how to sort of navigate potential life-and-death situations.

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Gonzalez said deputies could only respond with lethal force in a life-and-death situation.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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