self-preservation

noun

self-pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌself-ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən 

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

Adams’ critics have seized on his recent comments about the Trump administration as a move toward self-preservation, accusing the mayor of cozying up to the next president in an effort to secure a pardon in his corruption case. —Anthony Izaguirre and Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

These men’s complacency, The Seed of the Sacred Fig argues, isn’t just a selfish act of self-preservation. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024

The primacy that Netanyahu accords self-preservation over national security and even social cohesion is increasingly demoralizing the broad swath of the population that make up the backbone of Israel’s citizen army and modern economy. —Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024

This system, like all organisms, is above all else motivated by self-preservation. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

self-preservation

noun

self-pres·​er·​va·​tion

ˌself-ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən

: the keeping of oneself from destruction or harm