life-and-death
adjective
ending with the death or possible death of one of the participants; crucially important.
Jump To:
-
life-and-death
-
life and death
life and death
life-and-death
American
[lahyf-uhn-deth]
/ ˈlaɪf ənˈdɛθ /
adjective
life and death
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of life-and-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.
See Examples For:
When you’re talking life-and-death issues you shouldn’t need a translator.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
“They are clawing you to get away because, to them, that is a life-and-death situation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The need for R&R is especially dire during wartime, when their stations take on life-and-death intensity.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
Not having money is a life-and-death issue in America.
From MarketWatch ● May 26, 2026
“Kinda. It’s like the life-and-death cycle,” said Aru.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Sometimes our rational understanding of life and death bumps into a seemingly impossible presence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
He said the evidence to support centralisation was "unequivocal" and a "matter of life and death" for the most vulnerable, low-weight babies.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Bryden outlined Jibril’s life and death in a closed-door intelligence briefing in June attended by U.S. special-operations personnel and East African government officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Remake” stars McElwee, his son and the camera — that one simple tool that connects Adrian and his father through space and time, life and death.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
I’m just a kid telling you about the life and death of my last master.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
