survivalist

noun

sur·​viv·​al·​ist sər-ˈvī-və-list 

: a person who advocates or practices survivalism

especially : one who has prepared to survive in the anarchy of an anticipated breakdown of society

survivalist adjective

Examples of survivalist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Let’s look back at the storm that destroyed parts of South Miami-Dade, ripped families from their homes, turned us into survivalists with no power or landmarks — and gave us the determination to rebuild. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Many will be intrigued by Florian Zeller’s latest, featuring real-life couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, about an architect building a survivalist bunker for a billionaire and his wife, who questions his involvement. — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Jim wanders the city and teams up with a tough survivalist, Selena, a lethal widower Frank and his daughter Hannah. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 June 2026

But what was known in 1964 was largely abandoned in 2024, and what was offered instead was a questionable survivalist theory of democracy—one that proposed to erect a shield over one group while providing weaponry to destroy another. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for survivalist

• revivalist