survivor

American  

[ser-vahy-ver] / sərˈvaɪ vər /

noun

• survivors
  plural

1. a person or thing that survives.

2. Law. the one of two or more designated persons, as joint tenants or others having a joint interest, who outlives the other or others.

3. a person who continues to function or prosper in spite of opposition, hardship, or setbacks.

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survivor British  

/ səˈvaɪvə /

noun

1. a person or thing that survives

2. property law one of two or more specified persons having joint interests in property who lives longer than the other or others and thereby becomes entitled to the whole property

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsurvivor
  noun
• self-survivor
  noun
• survivorship
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• survivors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of survivor

First recorded in 1495–1505; survive + -or ²

Explanation

A survivor is someone who hasn't died: the word is used often about people who have been through a horrible experience, like a plane crash. Cancer survivors and Holocaust survivors have one thing in common: they lived through horrible ordeals and are still with us. The TV show "Survivor" made this word feel a little less weighty, but it still packs a punch. Anytime something horrible happens — like a car crash or an epidemic — you'll hear about the survivors. Some survivors may feel they are just lucky, but many survivors take pride in being strong enough to survive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

survivor survivors

Coissac said he had spoken to one survivor of the wreck who came from the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, where rebels are battling the federal government in a recent flare-up of violence.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

Needs change, particularly as a case develops and a survivor continues to process what happened.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026

He also commended the "bravery" of the victim coming forward and said she was a "survivor".

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

“As a daughter of a lung cancer survivor who had one year of immunotherapy, and as a registered nurse, I have seen firsthand the value of immunotherapy,” Tarver said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

I don’t check the time because I don’t want anything to shatter my survivor spirit.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Thousands of students and faculty members rallied at Cornell this month to demand justice for the accuser, displaying signs reading "Hold them accountable" and "Protect survivors."

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

“The court granted the motion over objections. We hope the survivors are able to continue healing, both emotionally and physically, from this shocking event.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

"Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives," he added.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

“She hopes the focus remains on supporting survivors and making sure people who have experienced sexual violence know they are seen, heard and supported.”

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

Could the people of Weep ever accept the survivors in the citadel—or, like the threave in the desert, at least suffer them to live?

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• residue