survival

noun

sur·​viv·​al sər-ˈvī-vəl 

often attributive

1

a

: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing

b

: the continuation of life or existence

problems of survival in arctic conditions

2

: one that survives

Examples of survival in a Sentence

The refugees depend on foreign aid for their survival.

Small businesses are fighting for survival.

the survival of an old folktale

Recent Examples on the Web

His health showed steady, although gradual, improvements after a weekend respiratory crisis and kidney complications raised concerns about his survival. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025

What is not known is how exactly this will come to pass, and what explanation will be given for her survival. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

But over millions of years, humans evolved to rely less on hearing for survival. —Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025

The fates of these fascinating underdogs soon become entwined, of course, in a drama that’s all about the fight for survival. —Judy Berman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing survival

• chance of survival
• survival instinct
• survival mechanism
• survival of the fittest

Rhymes for survival

• archival
• arrival
• revival
• conjunctival
• rival
• subconjunctival

Kids Definition

survival

noun

sur·​viv·​al sər-ˈvī-vəl 

1

: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing

survival of half the population after the epidemic

2

: a continuation of life despite difficult conditions

skills for survival in the desert

3

: one that survives