life-or-death

adjective

Of critical importance to the survival of a living organism.

“Good camoflouge is life or death for many animals in the wild.”

Similar
life-and-deathcrucialimportant
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Meanings

adjectivelife-or-death (not comparable)

alternative life-and-death · alternative life or death

  1. not comparableOf critical importance to the survival of a living organism.

    Good camoflouge is life or death for many animals in the wild.

  2. not comparableHaving death as a possible or even likely outcome; perilous.

    Ascending Mount Everest can be life or death for an inexperienced climber.

  3. idiomaticnot comparableOf critical importance to the success of a particular endeavor.

    Obtaining financing was a life-or-death matter for the research.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivevitally important

Similar
life-and-deathcrucialimportant
Also see
crucialearnestessentialfatefraughtfatefulfatesomeimportantnoticeableparamount

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Korean 판가름하다
  • 판가름하다 (pan'gareumhada)having death as a possible or even likely outcome; perilous
Polish na śmierć i życie
  • na śmierć i życiehaving death as a possible or even likely outcome; perilous
Cite this entry
APA

life-or-death. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/life-or-death

MLA

“life-or-death.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/life-or-death. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “life-or-death,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/life-or-death.

Source: life-or-death on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.