lifesaver

noun

life·​sav·​er ˈlīf-ˌsā-vər 

1

: one trained to save lives of drowning persons

2

: one that is at once timely and effective in time of distress or need

Examples of lifesaver in a Sentence

a surgical procedure that has been a lifesaver for many people

This multipurpose tool can be a real lifesaver when something needs fixing.

Frozen dinners can be lifesavers for busy parents.

Thanks so much for offering to help. You're a real lifesaver!

Recent Examples on the Web

Tenant advocates counter that eviction bans were a lifesaver. —Michael Casey, Fortune, 3 May 2026

The château has proven a lifesaver in more than one way. —Camille Okhio, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026

The idea of picking something out of a catalog that would arrive fully built seemed like a lifesaver. —Vanessa Romo, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026

As a kid three hours into a monotonous road trip, stopping for fresh hamburgers and a lot of hospitality was a lifesaver. —Katie Akin, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lifesaver

• ritonavir
• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver
• paver
• quaver
• raver

Kids Definition

lifesaver

noun

life·​sav·​er ˈlīf-ˌsā-vər 

1

: a person trained to save the lives of drowning persons

2

: something that relieves distress when most needed