living will

American  

noun

living wills plural

1. 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.

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living will British  

noun

1. 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• living wills
  plural

Etymology

Origin of living will

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

living will

But for people with dementia, the usual advance directives—such as a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare—may not be detailed enough.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

She said party policies on the cost of living will affect how she votes in the Senedd election on Thursday, describing it as "a big issue".

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

Mariano Machado, an analyst at the consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft, warned that "any gap between the macroeconomic situation and voters' everyday experience with the cost of living will influence the vote, and Lula knows it."

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

But I was on point with let’s go get a living will and trust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026

And remember: hard work and healthy living will keep one free of sickness.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool