living will

American

noun

a document instructing physicians, relatives, or others to refrain from the use of extraordinary measures, as life-support equipment, to prolong one's life in the event of a terminal illness.

living will British

noun

a document stating that if its author becomes terminally ill, his or her life should not be prolonged by artificial means, such as a life-support machine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

living wills

plural

Etymology

Origin of living will

First recorded in 1970–75

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:

living will

Burnham has signalled that providing extra support for the cost of living will be one of his priorities in government.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

Since the war began in late February, year-on-year inflation in Brazil has increased steadily, and the rising cost of living will be a primary issue in the campaign ahead of October's presidential election.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Across the world, the rising cost of living will likely translate into frustrated voters looking to take it out on incumbent parties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

A living will or living trust can provide additional instructions for his estate.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026

Soon after, the swollen ocean will swallow the ashes as it washes across all the land, and everything living will be forgotten under the sunless sky.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023