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

The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, chose survival. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

The brain switches to fight-or-flight and survival mode, and the person is always waiting for something terrible to happen. —Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025

INPs therefore give Pseudomonas a survival advantage, Morris said. —Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025

While the overall five-year survival rate is about 62%, outcomes can vary based on age, condition stage, subtype, and overall health. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Sep. 2025

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