noun
survival
suh-VEYE-vuhl
noun
1
The act or fact of staying alive, especially through danger or difficulty.
"Survival in the desert depends on finding water fast."
"Her survival after the crash amazed the doctors."
2
An old custom, belief, or practice that has lingered on even though people have forgotten why it started.
"Throwing salt over your shoulder is a survival from an old superstition."
How to Use Survival
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStaying alive, or something old that has stuck around long after its original reason faded.
Common pairings
survival instinct
fight for survival
survival of the fittest
Word Forms
survivals plural
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_____ in the desert depends on finding water fast.
Etymology
From survive plus the ending -al, turning the verb into a noun.