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Definition of survival

survival

/sɚˈvaɪvəl/
sur · viv · al
Plural:survivals
•
Adjective:survivable
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survival Lexical Profile

survival Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances.

Example

"Clean water and shelter are essential for human survival in the wilderness."

2

An object, custom, belief, or institution that has continued to exist from an earlier time.

Example

"The annual harvest festival is a fascinating survival from medieval agricultural traditions."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for survival

• Nearby Words

surveyor
survivability
survivable
survival
survivalism
survivalist
survive

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 16th century from the verb 'survive' and the noun-forming suffix '-al', tracing back through Anglo-French 'survivre' to Late Latin 'supervivere' ('to live beyond' or 'outlive').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Survival. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/survival
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