self-preservation

American  

[self-prez-er-vey-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌprɛz ərˈveɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. preservation of oneself from harm or destruction.

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self-preservation British  

noun

1. the preservation of oneself from danger or injury, esp as a basic instinct

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Other Word Forms

• self-preserving
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-preservation

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-preservation

The ICC isn’t good at putting away dictators, but it is excellent at self-preservation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

When faced with a legitimate mass threat to human life, many people would abandon mutuality and compassion in favor of self-preservation.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

Our legal system seems well prepared to scrutinize and punish their acts of self-preservation instead of examining the circumstances that made those acts necessary.

From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026

I deemed this an act of maturity and self-preservation, definitely not cowardice.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

Then self-preservation kicked in, and he strode to the attendance window, just out of the scythe’s line of sight.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman