Word
lifeblood
US/ˈɫaɪfˌbɫəd/
UK/lˈaɪfblʌd/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the most important thing that a group, business, or system needs to stay alive and successful. Without this thing, the whole system would stop working.
n. the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality. Often used metaphorically to describe the essential resource or activity that sustains an organization or community.
Examples
“Tourism is the lifeblood of this small island.”
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy, providing jobs and services to the community.”
“In the digital age, data has become the lifeblood of modern corporations, driving every strategic decision and marketing campaign through real-time analysis.”
Examples
simple
“Tourism is the lifeblood of this small island.”
contextual
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy, providing jobs and services to the community.”
complex
“In the digital age, data has become the lifeblood of modern corporations, driving every strategic decision and marketing campaign through real-time analysis.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lifeblood” in context.
Verb
01. cut off lifeblood
“The sanctions were designed to cut off the lifeblood of the regime.”
verb + noun
02. lifeblood flows
“Information is the lifeblood that flows through every modern corporation.”
noun + verb
03. lifeblood sustains
“It is the constant innovation that sustains the lifeblood of the tech industry.”
noun + verb
04. provide lifeblood
“Foreign investment provides the lifeblood needed for industrial growth.”
verb + noun
05. pump lifeblood
“The new arts center will pump lifeblood into the decaying city center.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. economic lifeblood
“Tourism remains the economic lifeblood of the coastal region.”
adj + noun
07. essential lifeblood
“Small businesses are the essential lifeblood of the local economy.”
adj + noun
08. vital lifeblood
“Volunteers are the vital lifeblood of this charitable organization.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. lifeblood of industry
“Cheap energy has long been considered the lifeblood of heavy industry.”
noun + prep + noun
10. act as the lifeblood
“The river acts as the lifeblood for the entire agricultural community.”
11. be the lifeblood of
“Reliable data is the lifeblood of any successful marketing strategy.”
12. constitute the lifeblood of
“These small grants constitute the lifeblood of local community projects.”
Usage
Typically used in the singular and often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Real-World Examples
“President Trump is moving to buy Russian diesel while also pressuring Ukraine to halt attacks on refineries, a lifeblood of Moscow’s war machine.” “Their lifeblood was advertising and their oxygen was spectacle.” “Biden praised public servants as the "lifeblood of our democracy.” “Alongside the scientists, there are thousands of low-paid workers whose job it is to classify and label data - the lifeblood of such systems.” Etymology
From life + blood. Compare English heart-blood (“lifeblood”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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