lifesaving

1 of 2

adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ How to pronounce lifesaving (audio)
: designed for or used in saving lives
lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2

noun

: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons

Examples of lifesaving in a Sentence

Noun All lifeguards are trained in lifesaving.
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.
Adjective
Regarding money management, few things are more lifesaving than an emergency fund. — Nia Bowers, Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 2024 Simulations are used to discover new lifesaving drugs, to model the future of climate change and to explore the behavior of colliding galaxies — as well as the physics of hypersonic missiles and nuclear explosions. — Alex W. Palmer, New York Times, 12 July 2023
Noun
When communication is ambiguous, the larger story gets lost in controversy, with more focus on the cause of death and less on lifesaving interventions like vaccination that could move the needle in decreasing the spread of infection. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 But one legal battle over lifesaving care drew attention in the 1960s, as sickness made its way through a Followers family in a Boise suburb. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifesaving

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifesaving was in 1598

Rhymes for lifesaving

See All Rhymes for lifesaving

Browse Nearby Words

lifesaver
lifesaving
life science
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifesaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifesaving. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective
life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ How to pronounce lifesaving (audio)
: designed for or used in saving lives
livesaving devices

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun
: the methods that can be used to save lives especially of drowning persons

Medical Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective
life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ How to pronounce lifesaving (audio)
: designed for or used in saving lives
lifesaving drugs

lifesaving

2 of 2 noun
: the skill or practice of saving or protecting the lives especially of drowning persons

More from Merriam-Webster on lifesaving

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lifesaving

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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