survival

 
Pronunciation: /səˈvʌɪv(ə)l/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances: the animal’s chances of survival were pretty low figurative he was fighting for his political survival
  • [count noun] an object or practice that has continued to exist from an earlier time: his shorts were a survival from his army days

Phrases

survival of the fittest

Biology the continued existence of organisms which are best adapted to their environment, with the extinction of others, as a concept in the Darwinian theory of evolution. Compare with natural selection.