life-and-death
adjective
ending with the death or possible death of one of the participants; crucially important.
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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:
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
"Militaries adopt AI to speed up processes such as target identification. But delegating life-and-death decisions to machines poses profound ethical and human rights risks," said Patrick Wilcken of Amnesty International.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
Mr. Braude is suitably critical of his subject for her sometimes glib approach to life-and-death matters, and he pegs her appeal as “delivering hard news as if it was light gossip.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
This was a life-and-death matter, though, and no moment to worry about being laughed at.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
One of Rosales’ favorite books is Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric,” a meditation on Black life and death in the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Like his nearby European companions and many other hybrid figures, he is a character of contrasts—power and fear, life and death, human and animal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The new mum said the family had shared "wonderful moments" with pets, which would also teach children about life and death.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
“Remake” stars McElwee, his son and the camera — that one simple tool that connects Adrian and his father through life and death.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
"We need to make this decision; it's a matter of life and death."
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
