life-and-death

adjective

ˈlīf-ən(d)-ˈdeth How to pronounce life-and-death (audio)
variants or less commonly life-or-death
ˈlīf-ər-ˈdeth How to pronounce life-and-death (audio)
Synonyms of life-and-deathnext
: involving or culminating in life or death : vitally important as if involving life or death

Examples of life-and-death in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Certainly not the life-and-death stakes. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 The stakes of slow action on pedestrian and cyclist safety are life-and-death. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026 Playing a child’s game and managing life-and-death Middle East politics share very little in common. — Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, getting enough of these critical nutrients was a daily life-and-death struggle. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for life-and-death

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life-and-death was in 1804

Rhymes for life-and-death

See All Rhymes for life-and-death

Browse Nearby Words

life-affirming
life-and-death
life arrow
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Life-and-death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-and-death. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

life-and-death

adjective
: ending in life or death : deciding which will survive
a life-and-death struggle

More from Merriam-Webster on life-and-death

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for life-and-death

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