survivability
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /səvˌaɪvəbˈɪlɪti/
US
- /sərˌvaɪvəˈbɪlɪti/
Description
- Ability to stay alive
- Ability to keep going
- Strength under danger
- Chance of lasting
Survivability is not just about staying alive. It is about how well a person, animal, object, system, or even an idea can keep going when conditions are hard. You might use it for a plant in dry weather, a soldier in combat, a building in a storm, or a business during a crisis. It can also describe how likely something is to last over time, especially when it faces damage, pressure, or change.
Survivability refers to the ability of something to stay alive, remain in use, or keep working when it faces danger, damage, or difficult conditions. It can describe a person, an animal, a machine, a building, a community, or even an idea. The word often suggests more than simple survival. It points to how well something can hold up, recover, and continue under pressure.
In biology, the word can describe how likely an organism is to stay alive in a certain environment. A species facing cold weather, little food, or new predators may have low or high survivability depending on how well it can adjust. In medicine, it can refer to how likely a patient is to live through an illness, injury, or treatment.
The term is also common in engineering, the military, and disaster planning. Engineers may study the survivability of a bridge, vehicle, or data system under attack or extreme weather. Military writers may use it for equipment or troops that must keep functioning in dangerous situations. Emergency planners may talk about the survivability of a community after a flood, fire, or earthquake, with attention to food, water, shelter, and communication.
Beyond physical danger, the word is also used in a broader sense. People may speak about the survivability of a language, tradition, plan, or company. In these cases, the idea is not always literal life or death. Instead, it is about whether something can continue to exist and stay useful despite outside pressure.
Overall, survivability is about the ability to last through trouble. It asks not only whether something can survive, but also how strong its chances are and how well it can keep going afterward.
Examples
- 1
Protective gear
The new helmet was designed to improve a rider's survivability in a crash.
- 2
Medical treatment
Doctors say early treatment greatly increases the survivability of patients with this disease.
- 3
Military testing
The military tested the vehicle under harsh conditions to measure its survivability on the battlefield.
- 4
Business survival
Investors were less worried about rapid growth than about the company's long-term survivability.
- 5
Climate pressure
In a hotter climate, the species' survivability may depend on access to fresh water.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- survivabilitynoun