life support

noun

: medical equipment, treatments, or medications that temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
The patient was placed on life support.
A mechanical pump that was invented as a temporary life support for patients with advanced heart failure is emerging as a potential tool to help hearts heal and function for the long term on their own.Ron Winslow
The current pediatric and adult life support recommendations suggest an epinephrine administration interval … of 3–5 minutes during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Donald H. Shaffner and Clifton W. Callaway
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
life-support equipment
life-support measures

Examples of life support in a Sentence

He was removed from life support. She was put on life support. equipment providing life support for astronauts
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.
Carmen’s career was on life support when former Raspberries producer Jimmy Ienner called him. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025 Her condition continued to deteriorate, requiring intubation and ECMO life support. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025 As the disease progressed over the next few days, she was intubated and put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — a life support technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs for patients with severe heart or lung conditions. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025 The elder Bech, 28, died after being taken to a New Orleans hospital following the attack and was kept on life support till his family could arrive according to Louisiana TV station KLFY. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for life support 

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life support was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near life support

Cite this Entry

“Life support.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20support. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

life support

noun
: medical equipment, treatments, or medications used to temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
Extracorporeal life support … is used to support the circulation of a patient with severe cardiac failure. The physiologic objective is to provide temporary circulatory support to the vital organs and to unload the failing heart as the injured myocardium attempts to recover.Massimo Massetti et al., The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Most of the patients from whom support was withheld or withdrawn had intracranial lesions, usually the result of trauma. A poor prognosis or brain death prompted the withholding or withdrawal of life support in most patients.Nicholas G. Smedira et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
The principles of medical ethics permit active, direct euthanasia … as well as passive and indirect forms. The latter include withholding or removing life-support measures, administering effective pain controls that often hasten death, and assisting patients in suicide.Susan S. Mattingly, The New England Journal of Medicine
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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