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

Even those with lives, careers and families are fundamentally lost, snared between their pursuit of personal justice and instinctual self-preservation.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

"The idea first developed as self-preservation," he explains, but it transformed the battlefield.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Europe should admit that self-preservation is now a central motive of its support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

“When people find themselves in a dangerous situation, they often do one of those. It’s automatic. Your brain goes into self-preservation mode and you don’t make logical decisions.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste