self-preservation

noun

self-pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌself-ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce self-preservation (audio)
1
: preservation of oneself from destruction or harm
2
: a natural or instinctive tendency to act so as to preserve one's own existence

Examples of self-preservation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Success without self-preservation isn’t success. Anastasia Paruntseva, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Much of the 31-year-old comic’s material revolves around getting by in an increasingly stupid world — half-hearted attempts at self-improvement, if not self-preservation. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025 If removal occurs here — under rules drafted by the very officials who benefit from them, rushed forward without limits — it will be remembered not as accountability but as self-preservation. Matthew J. Frauenfeld, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025 This approach is way more fun than the alternative, and gives far more room to explore questions of familial responsibility and the difference between care and self-preservation. Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-preservation

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-preservation was circa 1614

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Cite this Entry

“Self-preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preservation. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-preservation

noun
self-pres·​er·​va·​tion
ˌself-ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən
: the keeping of oneself from destruction or harm
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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