lifesaving

1 of 2

adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ 

: 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

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 stranded on exposed coral reefs or in oxygen-poor tidal pools, their ability to shuffle to safer waters becomes a lifesaving adaptation. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

This caused care to be denied for many as patients were unable to afford lifesaving care. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lifesaving

1 of 2 adjective

life·​sav·​ing ˈlīf-ˌsā-viŋ 

: 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 

: 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