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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

“It was sort of like a self-preservation thing,” he adds.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

When people feel connected to something larger than self-preservation, trust rises.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 18, 2025

It’s hardly a stretch to think that pitch-black darkness at a freakishly early hour could similarly deter would-be voters, out of either sloth or self-preservation.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2025

This national commemoration, three decades after his lifetime, pays tribute to his immeasurable contributions on behalf of one’s innate right to self-preservation and human dignity.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey