advance directive

American  

noun

1. a living will or durable power of attorney in which a person states their wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of mental incompetency or an inability to communicate.

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advance directive British  

noun

1. another name for living will

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Etymology

Origin of advance directive

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

advance directive

Also called an advance directive, a living will sets forth your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or tube feeding, if you are unable to make decisions on your own.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

For example, just 37% of solo agers 50 and older have a medical durable power of attorney or advance directive, according to the Society of Actuaries.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 21, 2026

Without a will or advance directive, his only living immediate relative, his brother, had signed a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment agreement with two doctors to transition him off of life support.

From Slate ● Dec. 8, 2025

His words, written as part of a so-called mental health advance directive, hold legal weight.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2024

The state could help promote choice and reduce coercion by ensuring that all conservatees have a chance to fill out a psychiatric advance directive, making their preferences clear to all the professionals serving them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2023