loss of life

idiomatic phrase

: death
… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of lifeCharles Dickens
: incidences of people dying
In 1900 a hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, destroying the city and killing over 6,000 persons—the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster ever recorded in the United States.David H. Hickcox

Examples of loss of life in a Sentence

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.
The catastrophic loss of life at the hands of a single bacterium during the 14th century remains one of human history’s most devastating events. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025 Worst nightmare: ‘Needless loss of life’ Local emergency management directors are not alone in their concerns. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025 The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025 Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life. Louis Uccellini, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for loss of life

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loss of life was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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