self-preservation

noun

self-pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌself-ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce self-preservation (audio)
1
: preservation of oneself from destruction or harm
2
: a natural or instinctive tendency to act so as to preserve one's own existence

Examples of self-preservation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Humans may forever seek self-preservation and perfection at any cost, Mickey 17 suggests, but what makes people human isn’t their body. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025 Beausoleil makes that claim, and argues that stupidity and self-preservation is also a sound reason for the Manson murders. TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 But the first-time author argues that true disruption must include self-preservation. Melissa Noel, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025 For a company like Accenture, working in the white-collar field and across corporate clients, there’s both evolution and self-preservation at work in getting there early. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-preservation

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-preservation was circa 1614

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preservation. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-preservation

noun
self-pres·​er·​va·​tion
ˌself-ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən
: the keeping of oneself from destruction or harm
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!