lifebelt

IPA/ˈlaɪfbelt/
IPA/ˈlaɪfbelt/

lifebelt — noun

  • lifebeltsingular
  • lifebeltsplural

1. A ring-shaped device that stays on the water's surface and is thrown to a person

1.nounB1
Definition

A ring-shaped device that stays on the water's surface and is thrown to a person who has fallen in, so they can grip it and stay afloat until rescue arrives.

Example

The ferry crew threw a lifebelt to the passenger who had fallen overboard.

throw + lifebelt + to + person — typical rescue pattern

Every ship must carry enough lifebelts for all passengers and crew members.

Common collocations
  • throw a lifebelt
  • grab a lifebelt
  • hold onto a lifebelt
  • inflatable lifebelt
Synonyms
  • lifebuoy

    a ring-shaped flotation device, often attached to a rope; used interchangeably with lifebelt in British English

  • life preserver

    the common American English term; can refer to rings, vests, or any flotation aid

Usage Note

Common in maritime and water-safety contexts. In American English, 'life preserver' or 'lifebuoy' is more frequently used for the ring-shaped device.

Common Mistakes

She wore a lifebelt around her neck.
She held a lifebelt in front of her chest or wore it under her arms.
A lifebelt is designed to be held or worn around the torso, not the neck.

2. A belt filled with air or light material that is fastened around the waist or to

2.nounB2
Definition

A belt filled with air or light material that is fastened around the waist or torso to help a person float in water.

Example

Swimmers training for the channel crossing wore lifebelts around their waists for safety.

worn around the waist

The lifebelt inflated automatically as soon as Tendai entered the salt water.

collocation: inflatable lifebelt

Common collocations
  • wear a lifebelt
  • fasten a lifebelt
  • inflatable lifebelt
  • lifebelt around the waist
Synonyms
  • swim belt

    a simpler term used for practice belts in swimming pools, not for emergency rescue

  • float belt

    descriptive but less common in everyday language

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (FLOATING RING): a buoyant belt is worn around the waist or torso rather than being held or thrown.

3. A strong belt or strap that holds a person safely in a seat or against a surface

3.nounB2
Definition

A strong belt or strap that holds a person safely in a seat or against a surface, used to prevent injury from falling or sudden movement.

Example

The construction workers clipped their lifebelts to the safety cable before stepping onto the beam.

clipped to a safety cable — construction safety context

His lifebelt clipped to the roof anchor, the window cleaner washed the windows safely.

lifebelt clipped to an anchor point — working at height safety context

Common collocations
  • clip a lifebelt
  • fasten a lifebelt
  • five-point lifebelt
  • lifebelt harness
Synonyms
  • seatbelt

    the standard term for a vehicle safety restraint; far more common than lifebelt in this sense

  • safety harness

    a full-body system of straps, not limited to a single belt

Usage Note

This sense is uncommon; 'seatbelt' or 'safety harness' is the preferred term in modern British English. 'Lifebelt' in this sense appears mainly in industrial, motorsport, and older safety literature.

Word family

  • lifebuoy
    nounB2
  • life jacket
    nounB1
  • life preserver
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Lifebelt, lifebuoy, life preserver, and life jacket all refer to equipment that helps a person stay afloat in water, but they differ in form and region. A lifebelt is typically a ring-shaped flotation device (common in British English) that is thrown to someone in distress. A lifebuoy is a specific type of ring-shaped aid, often with a rope attached for active rescue. Life preserver is the preferred term in American English and can mean any flotation device — rings, belts, or vests. A life jacket (or life vest) is a garment worn like a vest, designed with enough buoyancy to keep an unconscious person's head above water. For example: a crew member throws a lifebelt over the side, but you put on a life jacket before a boat trip. 'Floatation device' is a broader, more technical term covering all types.

lifebuoylife preserverlife jacketfloatation device

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • lifebelt storage
  • lifebelt station
  • lifebelt regulations

Prepositions

  • around the waist
  • to a cable

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

The word 'lifebelt' is a compound of 'life' (from Old English līf, meaning 'the state of being alive') and 'belt' (from Old English belt, via Latin balteus 'girdle, band'). The term emerged in the mid-19th century when steamship travel made water safety a public concern, and shipping regulations began requiring flotation devices on board passenger vessels.

First known use

1841

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1