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

To pretend otherwise, to act as if survival in these conditions is simply beyond this group, underrates them but is fundamentally far too kind to them. — Ben Jones, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Overall survival data, which will inform whether the combination treatment allows patients to live longer, were also not yet available. — Mariam Sunny, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

The improvements in survival are largely due to seat belt laws and federal investments in research and trauma centers that can treat injuries quickly. — Lydia McFarlane, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

But the higher survival rate of the native trees in dry conditions stuck with Leary, who asked her colleagues to delay a vote on the development until another meeting. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

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