life support
noun
: medical equipment, treatments, or medications that temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
The patient was placed on life support.
A mechanical pump that was invented as a temporary life support for patients with advanced heart failure is emerging as a potential tool to help hearts heal and function for the long term on their own.—
Ron Winslow
Ron WinslowThe current pediatric and adult life support recommendations suggest an epinephrine administration interval … of 3–5 minutes during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).—Donald H. Shaffner and Clifton W. Callaway
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounDonald H. Shaffner and Clifton W. Callawaylife-support equipment
life-support measures
Examples of life support in a Sentence
He was removed from life support.
She was put on life support.
equipment providing life support for astronauts
Recent Examples on the Web
She was placed on life support for a short period while the medical staff performed tests to determine the extent of her injuries.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Twenty years ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was on life support.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life support 
Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Twenty years ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was on life support.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life support
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life support.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near life support
Cite this Entry
“Life support.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20support. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life support
noun
: medical equipment, treatments, or medications used to temporarily replace or support the function of one or more failing organs in a seriously ill or injured patient and that provide an opportunity for stabilization or recovery
Extracorporeal life support … is used to support the circulation of a patient with severe cardiac failure. The physiologic objective is to provide temporary circulatory support to the vital organs and to unload the failing heart as the injured myocardium attempts to recover.—Massimo Massetti et al., The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Massimo Massetti et al., The Annals of Thoracic SurgeryMost of the patients from whom support was withheld or withdrawn had intracranial lesions, usually the result of trauma. A poor prognosis or brain death prompted the withholding or withdrawal of life support in most patients.—Nicholas G. Smedira et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounNicholas G. Smedira et al., The New England Journal of MedicineThe principles of medical ethics permit active, direct euthanasia … as well as passive and indirect forms. The latter include withholding or removing life-support measures, administering effective pain controls that often hasten death, and assisting patients in suicide.—Susan S. Mattingly, The New England Journal of Medicine
Susan S. Mattingly, The New England Journal of MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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