lifeline

American  

[lahyf-lahyn] / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

lifelines plural

1. a line, fired across a ship or boat, by means of which a hawser for a breeches buoy may be hauled aboard.

2. a line or rope for saving life, as one attached to a lifeboat.

3. any of various lines running above the decks, spars, etc., of a ship or boat to give sailors something to grasp when there is danger of falling or being washed away.

4. a wire safety rope supported by stanchions along the edge of the deck of a yacht.

5. the line by which a diver is lowered and raised.

6. any of several anchored lines used by swimmers for support.

7. a route or means of transportation or communication for receiving or delivering food, medicine, or assistance.

   This road is the town's lifeline and must be kept open despite the snow.

8. assistance at a critical time.

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lifeline British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a line thrown or fired aboard a vessel for hauling in a hawser for a breeches buoy

2. any rope or line attached to a vessel or trailed from it for the safety of passengers, crew, swimmers, etc

3. a line by which a deep-sea diver is raised or lowered

4. a vital line of access or communication

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lifelines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lifeline

First recorded in 1690–1700; life + line ¹

Explanation

A lifeline is a safety feature on a boat, a rope that either protects you from falling off or that you can throw to someone who's drowning. If you stumble off your friend's sailboat into the water, she'll throw you a lifeline. When sailors need to rescue a swimmer or a clumsy passenger, it helps to have a lifeline handy. And when you receive other kinds of vital support or help — a mobile phone, or a job recommendation, or a scholarship for college, for example — you can also call them lifelines. This figurative meaning has been around since the 19th century, while the "live-saving rope" definition is the earliest one, from about 1700.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lifeline lifelines

While Saudi Arabia’s route though Egypt throws a lifeline to Asian buyers, it cannot fully replace Red Sea exports.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

For the first generation of South Asian migrants to the UK, dedicated radio and television broadcasts by the BBC were a lifeline.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

After Fable disappeared, Chinese model GLM-5.2 launched and became a lifeline for stranded developers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

For these parents, access to others who’ve gone through the same tragedy is a lifeline and a rare occurrence outside designated support spaces.

From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026

“Nothing. Just a brief flight of fancy, my mind sailing off past the phantom tollbooth. So, which lifeline would you like to use?”

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

“Even limited asset releases function as both economic lifelines and political signals of de-escalation,” said Sanam Vakil, Middle East director at Chatham House, a London think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

The construction workers "lacked safety gear" like hardhats, boots, safety belts and lifelines, and worked under poor lighting and with no visible safety signages, she added.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

Iranians are stumbling to safety in Turkey at this border crossing in a snowy mountain pass that in recent weeks has become one of their few lifelines to the outside world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026

Remittances from loved ones abroad, part of the vast Venezuelan diaspora, have become lifelines for many families.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

Stretching from the front pulpit to a back stanchion and all around the Frog were stainless-steel lifelines rigged in stout stainless-steel posts.

From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen