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• life-and-death
  life-and-death

  adjective

  ending with the death or possible death of one of the participants; crucially important.
• life and death
  life and death

  see matter of life and death.

life-and-death

American  

[lahyf-uhn-deth] / ˈlaɪf ənˈdɛθ /

adjective

1. 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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life and death Idioms  

1. see matter of life and death.

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Etymology

Origin of life-and-death

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Not having money is a life-and-death issue in America.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The context involves a simple and crucial choice — between excessive patience and an urgency grounded in life-and-death human realities.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Jess Asato, another Labour critic of the legislation, said "a bill like this with such profound life-and-death impacts... must not be forced through without the scrutiny it deserves".

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

Frank Lima, a Los Angeles firefighter and general secretary-treasurer of the International Assn. of Fire Fighters, or IAFF, said the stairways are a life-and-death issue.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2025

This was a life-and-death matter, though, and no moment to worry about being laughed at.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling