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

After that, survival chances decline sharply due to dehydration, crush injuries, internal trauma and lack of oxygen. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

This is the story of a company that has bet its political survival on being technically correct in a town that runs on loyalty. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Weir takes readers on an adventure through this science-fiction survival story about a junior high science teacher who wakes up aboard a spaceship with amnesia. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Temperatures where someone is trapped may affect survival, and temperatures outside the rubble can affect rescue missions. — ABC News, 29 June 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