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
What some perceive as apathy is actually self-preservation.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
This act of self-preservation leads him to a new job, when scientist hippies on an exploratory mission are forced to rent a SecUnit for security purposes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
This suggests that current models have an implicit self-preservation goal.
—Yoshua Bengio, Time, 9 May 2025
For Black people across the diaspora, fashion is self-preservation.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-preservation
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Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
This act of self-preservation leads him to a new job, when scientist hippies on an exploratory mission are forced to rent a SecUnit for security purposes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
This suggests that current models have an implicit self-preservation goal.
—Yoshua Bengio, Time, 9 May 2025
For Black people across the diaspora, fashion is self-preservation.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-preservation
Cite this Entry
“Self-preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preservation. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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