lifesaver

• life-saver, life saver

From life +‎ saver.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪfˌseɪvə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪfˌseɪvəɹ/
• Hyphenation: life‧saver

lifesaver (plural lifesavers)

1. Someone or something that saves lives.
   1. A lifeguard or other rescuer.

      My dad loves his job as a surf lifesaver.

      Paramedics are not just ordinary workers but lifesavers with a very important job.

   2. A life buoy.

      Synonyms: life preserver, life ring

      They threw him a lifesaver and then hauled him up onto the boat.

      • 2023 October 2, Emily Bissland, “Warrnambool beach evacuated as surf lifesaver is 'catapulted' from rogue inflatable rescue boat”, in Australian Broadcasting Corporation‎^[1]:

        Ms Rybicki began filming just as a second IRB drove out to the rogue boat, collecting the first lifesaver into the boat en route.

   3. Any lifesaving tool or item of supplies.

      When I got lost in the woods, my Swiss Army knife was a lifesaver.

      • 2021 March 23, Natalie Grover, Denis Campbell, “Dexamethasone hailed as lifesaver for up to a million Covid patients worldwide”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN:

        Dexamethasone hailed as lifesaver for up to a million Covid patients worldwide [title]

2. (figurative) Someone or something that is very useful or helpful.

   Synonyms: boon, godsend

   Thank you so much for fixing my car; you're a real lifesaver!

   This shop is a lifesaver on a hot day when you're craving a cold drink.

   • 2021 August 26, Rachel Obordo, “‘Netflix is a lifesaver!’ The over-65s embracing the streaming boom”, in The Guardian‎^[3], →ISSN:

     Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have been lifesavers during the pandemic. Having both is ideal.