frontline

American  

[fruhnt-lahyn] / ˈfrʌntˌlaɪn /

Or front-line

adjective

1. located or designed to be used at a military front line.

   a frontline ambulance helicopter.

2. of, relating to, or involving the forefront in any action, activity, or field.

   a frontline TV reporter.

3. highly experienced or proficient in the performance of one's duties.

4. of or relating to essential work that depends on in-person interactions and may involve some risk, especially policing, healthcare, emergency services, public transit, grocery, warehouse, and delivery work.

   Congress is taking up a bill that would guarantee sick leave and hazard pay to frontline workers.

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Etymology

Origin of frontline

First recorded in 1910–15; front (in the military sense) + line ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

frontline

Washington, though, remains a major ally of Kyiv, providing it notably with intelligence and access to the Starlink satellite system that allows its frontline troops to communicate.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

He added: "Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries."

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Both pathogens can develop resistance and become "superbugs" that evade frontline drugs such as vancomycin.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

More than 22,000 frontline professionals have been trained through IFAS' specialist national training programme delivered in partnership with SafeLives.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

In addition to being disappointed that they weren’t flying into battle, the young pilots didn’t like the food at their new air base—they knew that frontline soldiers were getting better rations than they were.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein