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

And in the event that they are struck, there's a higher likelihood of survivorship. —David Pogue, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2024

Most of the case-study protagonists who come through Stanford reflect the survivorship bias of entrepreneurs who have made it. —Andy Dunn, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024

Three decades ago, survivorship was relatively rare; cancer survivors made up 1.4% of the population three decades ago, but now make up 5%. —Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 18 Sep. 2024

And in a type of cancer where early detection is the key to survivorship, health experts say this delay can make a dramatic difference in treatment, cost, quality of life and even survival. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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