Definition

A person who focuses on preparing for emergencies and survival situations, often by learning skills and gathering supplies to live independently in case of disasters or societal collapse.

Example

The survivalist spent years learning how to live off the land and build shelters in the wilderness.

Conversation

I met this interesting guy who calls himself a survivalist.

Really? What does he do exactly?

He spends a lot of time learning about foraging and building shelters.

That sounds cool! I guess he’s ready for anything!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Survivalist → It is formed from "survive" (from Latin *survivere*, meaning to live beyond or outlive) and the suffix "-ist" (meaning a person who practices or is concerned with something). A survivalist is a person who prepares for and practices survival skills, often in anticipation of emergencies or disasters.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'lives beyond' ('survive') and is a 'practitioner' ('-ist') of survival skills — that's what a survivalist does.

Visually Confused Words