living will

American

noun

a document instructing physicians, relatives, or others to refrain from the use of extraordinary measures, as life-support equipment, to prolong one's life in the event of a terminal illness.

living will British

noun

a document stating that if its author becomes terminally ill, his or her life should not be prolonged by artificial means, such as a life-support machine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of living will

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But I was on point with let’s go get a living will and trust.

From Los Angeles Times

If the prime minister does secure a majority, the stagnant wages, the weak yen and cost of living will be her most immediate and biggest challenges.

From BBC

Solo agers and older adults who are in a relationship but don’t have kids are much less likely than other people their age to have power-of-attorney documents, medical directives, living wills and wills or trusts.

From MarketWatch

A living will or living trust can also provide additional instructions for how you wish your estate to be handled after your death.

From MarketWatch

A living will and/or living trust can also provide additional instructions.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023