life-or-death
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of life-or-death
First recorded in 1680–90
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.
Such practical guidance for life-or-death emergencies gave her principles for handling an unpredictable situation at home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
With people making potentially life-or-death decisions based on his posts, Esko said he felt the weight of responsibility.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
On Wednesday, the man was no longer in a life-or-death situation, but the woman's condition had not yet stabilised, AFP reports.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Related: They have millions in the bank — but without kids, who makes their life-or-death decisions?
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026
It is fitting that the first great opera, composed by Monteverdi in 1607, features a hero faced with a life-or-death singing challenge in the Underworld, Orfeo.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
