lifesaver
Americannoun
-
a person who rescues another from danger of death, especially from drowning.
-
a person or thing that saves a person, as from a difficult situation or critical moment.
That money was a lifesaver.
-
Chiefly British. a lifeguard.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lifesaver
First recorded in 1880–85; life + saver ( def. )
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.
"So many people round here can't get a dentist… so it's been an absolute lifesaver."
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
The low unemployment rate, perhaps the biggest surprise of the postpandemic labor market, has been a lifesaver for the economy.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 10, 2026
This new capital has been a lifesaver for private-equity firms, many of which have struggled to raise money from institutional investors for nearly four years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
The World Service is "an absolute lifesaver" in some countries, said 78-year-old writer Jennifer Kavanagh.
From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025
A voice reached out to her like a lifesaver in the water.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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.
