life signs: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Primarily formal, medical, scientific, and metaphorical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “life signs” mean?
Indications that a living being is alive, such as breathing, heartbeat, or consciousness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Indications that a living being is alive, such as breathing, heartbeat, or consciousness.
Any evidence of activity, vitality, or functioning, either in a living organism or metaphorically in projects, relationships, or systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Both use the term identically in medical and metaphorical contexts.
Connotations
Identical in connotation, strongly associated with emergency medicine, sci-fi, and critical situations.
Frequency
Equally common in technical and metaphorical registers in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “life signs” in a Sentence
V + for + life signs (search for, scan for, check for)V + life signs (detect, monitor, show)Adj + life signs (stable, vital, faint)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “life signs” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The paramedics were life-signing the casualty.
- The device is used to life-sign patients in the field.
American English
- The search team life-signed the rubble for hours.
- New technology can life-sign organisms in extreme environments.
adverb
British English
- The patient was life-signs positive.
- The probe searched life-signs thoroughly.
American English
- The readings came back life-signs negative.
- The area was scanned life-signs carefully.
adjective
British English
- The life-signs monitor was beeping steadily.
- They conducted a life-signs scan of the area.
American English
- The life-signs data was transmitted to the hospital.
- A life-signs detection protocol was initiated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The quarterly reports showed no life signs for the failing project.'
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and astrobiological research to discuss detecting organisms.
Everyday
Mostly in news reports about accidents/rescues or metaphorical discussions about hobbies/relationships.
Technical
Core term in emergency medicine, veterinary science, and search-and-rescue operations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “life signs”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “life signs”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “life signs”
- Using singular 'life sign' (rare).
- Confusing with 'vital signs' (which is a near-synonym but more strictly medical).
- Misspelling as 'lifesigns' (should be two words or hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard usage it is almost always plural, referring to the multiple indicators of life (pulse, respiration, etc.).
They are often interchangeable. 'Vital signs' is more strictly clinical (measuring pulse, temperature, etc.). 'Life signs' can be broader, including movement or consciousness, and is more common in search/rescue or sci-fi contexts.
Yes, metaphorically or in a scientific sense. E.g., 'The dried-up riverbed showed no life signs.'
It is very uncommon. The concept inherently involves multiple indicators, so the plural form is standard.
Indications that a living being is alive, such as breathing, heartbeat, or consciousness.
Life signs is usually primarily formal, medical, scientific, and metaphorical contexts. in register.
Life signs: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌsaɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪf ˌsaɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Show no life signs”
- “A flicker of life signs”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hospital monitor with a line graph. When the line is flat, there are NO 'life signs'. When it shows peaks and valleys (like the 'sign' of a mountain range), it indicates LIFE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIVING IS FUNCTIONING / A PROJECT IS A PATIENT (e.g., 'The project is on life support, showing only faint life signs.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'life signs' LEAST likely to be used?