Life-and-death (adjective)

Of or involving a situation in which the outcome will determine whether someone will live or die.

Origin:

Compound word from "life" and "death".

Examples:

1. The situation was a life-and-death matter.
2. The surgery was a life-and-death procedure.
3. The decision he made was a life-and-death one.
4. It was a life-and-death battle for survival.
5. The situation was a matter of life-and-death importance.