Survivor

Definition

A survivor is an individual who continues to live, especially despite life-threatening circumstances or adversities. The term often holds a connotation of resilience, and overcoming difficulties or challenges.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /sərˈvaɪvər/
• Respelling: sur-VY-vur (with "sur" as in "sir," "VY" rhyming with "eye," and "vur" as in "fur")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /səˈvaɪvə/
• Respelling: sur-VY-vuh (similar to American English, with "sur" as in "sir," "VY" like in "eye," and "vuh" as a softer version of "vur")

In both dialects, "survivor" is pronounced with the primary stress on the second syllable, "VY." The main difference lies in the pronunciation of the final syllable, which is more pronounced as "vur" in American English and softer, "vuh," in British English.

Etymology

The term "survivor" stems from the Latin word "supervivere", where 'super' denotes over, beyond, and 'vivere' signifies to live. The transition into Middle English saw the evolution of the term into "surviven", later becoming the modern English verb "survive". "Survivor" is the noun form, referring to an individual who has survived.

Derivatives

• Survivorship (noun)
• Survivability (noun)
• Survivor's guilt (noun phrase)
• Survivor syndrome (noun phrase)
• Survivable (adjective)

Synonyms

• Endurer
• Overcomer
• Perseverer

Antonyms

• Casualty
• Fatality
• Victim

Usage

The term survivor is extensively used in various fields such as medicine, psychology, and sociology, often denoting individuals who have lived through traumatic or life-threatening events. It can also refer to those who outlive others, such as in the case of bereavement.

Related Terms

• Survival
• Resilience
• Coping
• Adversity
• Persistence

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Individual Continuation: An individual who continues to live, especially despite life-threatening circumstances or adversities.
• Example: She is a survivor of the car accident, sustaining only minor injuries while others were severely hurt.

• Resilience: An individual who displays resilience by overcoming difficult circumstances or recovering from traumas.
• Example: As a survivor of abuse, he now advocates for mental health awareness and supports others through their healing journeys.

• Inheritance: An individual who outlives another person, often used in the legal context relating to inheritance or succession.
• Example: Being the sole survivor of his family, he inherited the family estate.