advance directive

American

noun

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.

advance directive British

noun

another name for living will

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of advance directive

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

In reality, it was an advance directive instructing doctors to do anything they could to bring her back to life.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 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

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