survivalist

[ ser-vahy-vuh-list ]

noun

1. a person who makes preparations to survive a widespread catastrophe, as an atomic war or anarchy, especially by storing food and weapons in a safe place.

survivalist

/ səˈvaɪvəlɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who believes in ensuring his personal survival of a catastrophic event by arming himself and often by living in the wild
   2. ( as modifier )

      survivalist weapons

Derived Forms

• surˈvivalˌism, noun

Other Words From

• sur·vival·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of survivalist¹

First recorded in 1965–70; survival + -ist

Example Sentences

“Imagine, my young survivalists, the seas rising up the slopes of this ancient volcano. Tsunamis wiping away all that you have ever known!”

From Literature

There are right-wing survivalists, celebrity exorcists, environmentalists and a handful of quasi-socialists.

From Seattle Times

It is why so many hucksters sell survivalist kits, supplements and overpriced gold through right-wing media networks.

From Salon

The swirl of cartoon physics and comic melodrama is fantastical and otherworldly, as if survivalists in the wild had access to home-movie equipment to chart their increasing delirium.

From Los Angeles Times

The Love Has Won cult attracted more New Age types, while on the far-right so-called “preppers” and “survivalists” have colloidal silver in their survival kits.

From Salon