survival
n. uncountablen. the state of continuing to live or exist, especially after a dangerous event. It is the act of staying alive when things are very difficult.
n. the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an ordeal or difficult circumstances. Often used to describe the persistence of a species or a cultural practice over time.
The hikers carried extra water for their survival in the desert.
The small business struggled for survival during the economic downturn but managed to stay open by cutting costs.
Anthropologists study how the survival of ancient traditions often depends on their ability to adapt to the pressures of a modern, globalized world.
From survive + -al.
Primarily uncountable when referring to the general state of staying alive; can be used as a modifier in compound nouns like 'survival kit' or 'survival skills'.