lifeblood

noun

life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd How to pronounce lifeblood (audio)
-ˌbləd
Synonyms of lifebloodnext
1
: blood regarded as the seat of vitality
2
: a vital or life-giving force or component
freedom of inquiry is the lifeblood of a university

Examples of lifeblood in a Sentence

The town's lifeblood has always been its fishing industry. The neighborhoods are the lifeblood of this city. the lifeblood that flows through his veins
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.
Morning traffic, long the lifeblood of the Starbucks model, climbed back to roughly fiscal 2022 levels. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 Our dedicated staff members are the lifeblood of the Academy and are instrumental in propelling our mission forward. Noe Padilla, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 Of course, short films have become the lifeblood of the horror industry and blockbuster filmmakers like Fede Alvarez and David Sandberg made names for themselves in that medium. Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026 What is more pernicious than the denial is the tacit acceptance of his behavior in the community, as the community was the lifeblood of his art. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifeblood

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifeblood was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifeblood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeblood. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

lifeblood

noun
life·​blood ˈlīf-ˈbləd How to pronounce lifeblood (audio)
: something that gives strength and energy

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