noun
-
the blood, considered as vital to sustain life
-
the essential or animating force
Etymology
Origin of lifeblood
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.
Logistics is the lifeblood of the economy—and J.B.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
“Investors are going to be focused on that metric and trends there, given engagement is really the lifeblood of the company and really what fuels the long-term revenue and earnings growth.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
“Theatrical windows used to be the lifeblood of independent film, and now it’s basically gone,” said David Offenberg, an associate professor of finance at Loyola Marymount University and author of the book “Independent Film Finance.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
"Football was his lifeblood," said Jordan, noting that after the Bradford fire, Yorath attended the funerals of all those who died.
From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026
I told the president that the current conflict was draining South Africa’s lifeblood and talks were the only solution.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
