Standard Lemma guide

lifeblood

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈlaɪfˌblʌd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: L AY1 F B L AH2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Blood that is needed for continued life; blood regarded as the seat of life.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blood

2

noun

Meaning 2

That which is required for continued existence or function.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, uncountable, usually

Examples

  • Gasoline is the lifeblood of the modern city.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: essence

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an essential or life-giving force

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • water is the lifeblood of India

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: force

4

noun

Meaning 4

the blood considered as the seat of vitality

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blood

History

Etymology

From life + blood. Compare English heart-blood (“lifeblood”).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Herzblut — blood needed for life
  • Spanish: sangre vital — blood needed for life
  • Welsh: gwaed — blood needed for life
  • Finnish: elinehto — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • Finnish: elämänlähde — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • French: élément moteur — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • French: forces vives — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • French: élément vital — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • German: Lebensader — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • Italian: linfa vitale — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • Māori: manawapou — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • Slovak: životná miazga — figurative: that which is required for existence
  • Tagalog: dugo ng buhay — figurative: that which is required for existence