survivorship

American  

[ser-vahy-ver-ship] / sərˈvaɪ vərˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the state of being a survivor.

2. Law. a right of a person to property on the death of another having a joint interest: in the case of more than two joint tenants, the property passes to successive survivors.

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Etymology

Origin of survivorship

First recorded in 1615–25; survivor + -ship

Example Sentences

The researchers propose that rising NDRG1 levels reflect what they call a "cellular survivorship bias."

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

The most practical solution: Community property with right of survivorship or, as a halfway point, a clearly drafted life-estate agreement, ideally memorialized in a postnuptial agreement to fend off any disgruntled stepchildren.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

Even if one Social Security benefit goes away after death, people with survivorship pensions and required minimum distributions on other retirement accounts can find themselves in a higher tax bracket, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

Here is the harsh and unvarnished truth: Joint tenancy comes with survivorship rights.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

If they cannot prove a survivorship, the judgment is that the deaths were simultaneous.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.