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

In Los Angeles, my hometown, protests rage as ICE raids intensify — yet we’re still questioned for existing between survival and success. —Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025

Arcus Biosciences — The clinical-stage biotech gained almost 9% after a drug trial showed improved survival rates in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. —Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025

What looks like survival pay here can be life-changing abroad. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025

Their only hope of survival is to locate a high-grade source of the essential element to repair their ailing vessel. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 13 Oct. 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