loss of life
idiomatic phrase
: death
… street robberies, often accompanied by cruel wounds, and not unfrequently by loss of life …—
Charles Dickens
: incidences of people dying
Charles DickensIn 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
David H. HickcoxExamples of loss of life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire's escalation.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Not only would the loss of life on the Israeli side and the taking of hostages have been prevented, but the death toll in Gaza would likely be far less.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
Reducing emissions is the most effective way to prevent the escalating risks, loss of life and economic devastation caused by climate change.
—María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Other camps dotting the river's edge reported damage – some quite significant – but no loss of life.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loss of life
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Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Not only would the loss of life on the Israeli side and the taking of hostages have been prevented, but the death toll in Gaza would likely be far less.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
Reducing emissions is the most effective way to prevent the escalating risks, loss of life and economic devastation caused by climate change.
—María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Other camps dotting the river's edge reported damage – some quite significant – but no loss of life.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loss of life
Cite this Entry
“Loss of life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss%20of%20life. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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