survival
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
survivals
plural
survivals
Britannica Dictionary definition of SURVIVAL
1
[noncount]
:
the state or fact of continuing to live or exist especially in spite of difficult conditions
— often used before another noun
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The refugees depend on foreign aid for their survival.
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Small businesses are fighting/struggling for survival.
-
the survival of an old folktale
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The doctor said her chance of survival [=chance that she would get better and continue to live] was about 50 percent.
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The scouts learned basic survival skills/techniques.
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Patients have a high survival rate if the cancer is detected early.
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an animal's survival instinct [=an animal's ability to know what to do to stay alive]
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He uses his wits as a survival mechanism. [=as a way of protecting himself from being hurt by other people]
2
[count]
:
something from an earlier period that still exists or is done
— usually singular
-
The holiday custom is a survival from colonial times.
survival of the fittest
2
— used to refer to a situation in which only the people or things that are strongest, most skillful, etc., are able to succeed or to continue to exist
-
In the business world, it's survival of the fittest.
