noun
lifeblood
LYF-bluhd
Lifeblood (noun) means Blood, viewed as essential to staying alive. Example: “The wound drained his lifeblood before help arrived.”
noun
1
Blood, viewed as essential to staying alive.
"The wound drained his lifeblood before help arrived."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishThe thing something absolutely depends on to keep going — usually used figuratively.
Common pairings
the lifeblood of the economy
lifeblood of a community
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Word forms
- Plural
- lifebloods
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
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.
