loss of life

idiomatic phrase

: death

… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of life …

—Charles Dickens

: incidences of people dying

In 1900 a hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, destroying the city and killing over 6,000 persons—the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster ever recorded in the United States.

—David H. Hickcox

Examples of loss of life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, in the case of the Los Angeles wildfires, this grief stems from the loss of lives, homes, and the sense of safety and stability many once took for granted. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025

Yet, thoughts of the widespread devastation and loss of lives lingered Monday night at Intuit Dome. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 14 Jan. 2025

In 2021, during Winter Storm Uri, Texas was plunged into days of darkness and devastating market failure, resulting in heavy loss of life and astronomical price escalation. —Llewellyn King, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, California, causing loss of life and extensive property damage, speculation that the Hollywood sign also succumbed to the flames has taken the internet by storm. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above