survivorship

noun

sur·​vi·​vor·​ship sər-ˈvī-vər-ˌship 

1

: the legal right of the survivor of persons having joint interests in property to take the interest of the person who has died

2

: the state of being a survivor : survival

3

: the probability of surviving to a particular age

also : the number or proportion of survivors (as of an age group or population)

Examples of survivorship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Equal ownership with the right of survivorship, meaning the home automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenant. —Brendel Hightower, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025

MassMutual’s survivorship policy is a good fit for couples interested in estate planning. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024

The team used this data to create what are known as survivorship curves – essentially, plotting a graph of how many individuals survive to each age. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 29 Dec. 2024

Property is treated as a covered bequest when acquired by reason of a covered expatriate's death including property rights passing under a right of survivorship, annuity payments, property subject to a general power of appointment, and life insurance proceeds. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.d., Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for survivorship

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• citizenship
• companionship
• copartnership
• dictatorship
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship

Medical Definition

survivorship

noun

sur·​vi·​vor·​ship -ˈvī-vər-ˌship 

1

: the state of being a survivor

quality of life in long-term survivorship (five years or longer) of patients who have experienced breast cancer

2

: the probability of surviving to a particular age

also : the number or proportion of survivors (as of an age group)

Legal Definition

survivorship

noun

sur·​vi·​vor·​ship

1

: the right of one or more joint tenants who have survived another to take the interest of the person who has died

2

: the state of being a survivor