survival

American  

[ser-vahy-vuhl] / sərˈvaɪ vəl /

noun

1. the act or fact of surviving, especially under adverse or unusual circumstances.

2. a person or thing that survives or endures, especially an ancient custom, observance, belief, or the like.

3. Anthropology.  (no longer in technical use) the persistence of a cultural trait, practice, or the like long after it has lost its original meaning or usefulness.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or for use in surviving, especially under adverse or unusual circumstances.

   survival techniques.

survival British  

/ səˈvaɪvəl /

noun

1. a person or thing that survives, such as a custom

2. 1. the act or fact of surviving or condition of having survived

   2. ( as modifier )

      survival kit

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Other Word Forms

• nonsurvival noun

Etymology

Origin of survival

First recorded in 1590–1600; survive + -al ²

Example Sentences

It is, ultimately, the key to their survival.

From BBC

For RNA viruses, such as influenza, survival is equivalent to replication.

From Salon

BBC Sport sits down with the 32-year-old, and speaks to his father Makasi, to piece together a tale of power, betrayal and survival which reads more like a political thriller than a family tree.

From BBC

"I've never had the stability to be able to focus on work experience and that sort of thing, because when I've been experiencing chronic homelessness I've just been focused on survival."

From BBC

Some days more than others, Wilhite feels the miracle of survival, of prayer, of modern medicine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• continuity
• durability
• endurance