noun

lifeblood

LYF-bluhd

Lifeblood (noun) means Blood, viewed as essential to staying alive. Example: “The wound drained his lifeblood before help arrived.”

noun

Blood, viewed as essential to staying alive.

"The wound drained his lifeblood before help arrived."

Something absolutely essential to keeping a system, organization, or activity going.

"Tourism is the lifeblood of the local economy."

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of this charity."

How to use lifeblood

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe thing something absolutely depends on to keep going — usually used figuratively.

Common pairings

the lifeblood of the economy lifeblood of a community

Word forms

lifebloods plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “lifeblood” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The wound drained his _____ before help arrived.

Etymology

A compound of life + blood, formed to describe blood as the thing that sustains living creatures.

Rhymes for lifeblood

food good wood mood hood snood blood flood brood Atwood Osgood Elwood

See all rhymes for lifeblood →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lifeblood” mean?

The word “lifeblood” means blood, viewed as essential to staying alive. In plain terms, the thing something absolutely depends on to keep going — usually used figuratively.

How do you pronounce “lifeblood”?

“Lifeblood” is pronounced LYF-bluhd (/ˈlaɪfˌblʌd/ in IPA).

How do you use “lifeblood” in a sentence?

Here is “lifeblood” used in a sentence: “The wound drained his lifeblood before help arrived.”

What part of speech is “lifeblood”?

“Lifeblood” is a noun.

How many meanings does “lifeblood” have?

“Lifeblood” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: blood, viewed as essential to staying alive.