struggle for existence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Academic, formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “struggle for existence” mean?
The fundamental biological concept where individuals and species must compete for limited resources in order to survive and reproduce.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The fundamental biological concept where individuals and species must compete for limited resources in order to survive and reproduce.
Any intense, ongoing effort to survive or succeed in a challenging or competitive environment, often used metaphorically for economic, social, or personal hardships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Slightly more common in UK academic writing due to historical emphasis on Darwin.
Connotations
Identical connotations of Darwinian competition and hardship.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in academic and formal contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “struggle for existence” in a Sentence
[Subject] faces a struggle for existencethe struggle for existence among [group]to be engaged in a struggle for existenceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “struggle for existence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Small businesses struggle for existence in the current economic climate.
- The species has struggled for existence on this isolated island for millennia.
American English
- Startups struggle for existence in a saturated tech market.
- These animals struggle for existence against invasive predators.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not a standard adverbial form.
American English
- N/A - Not a standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The documentary highlighted the struggle-for-existence reality of urban wildlife. (Hyphenated attributive use)
- It's a struggle-for-existence situation for many freelancers.
American English
- They are in a constant struggle-for-existence mode. (Hyphenated attributive use)
- The film depicts a struggle-for-existence narrative.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes extreme market competition where only the most efficient companies survive.
Academic
Central term in biology, ecology, and social Darwinism; used in discussions of evolution and competition.
Everyday
Used metaphorically to describe severe financial hardship or a very difficult life situation.
Technical
In biology, the competition for limited resources among members of a species and between species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “struggle for existence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “struggle for existence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “struggle for existence”
- Using 'struggle for life' interchangeably in formal academic contexts (though similar, 'existence' is the canonical Darwinian term).
- Using it for trivial challenges, which dilutes its meaning of a fundamental fight for survival.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related but distinct. 'Struggle for existence' describes the competitive *process*, while 'survival of the fittest' describes the *outcome* of that process.
Yes, but it's a strong metaphor. It implies your job is so competitive or poorly paid that your professional survival is at stake, not just that it's hard work.
The phrase was popularised by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book 'On the Origin of Species', though similar ideas existed earlier.
In everyday language, they are often interchangeable. In scientific contexts, 'struggle for existence' is the more precise term as defined by Darwin, encompassing not just individual life but success in leaving progeny.
The fundamental biological concept where individuals and species must compete for limited resources in order to survive and reproduce.
Struggle for existence is usually academic, formal, literary in register.
Struggle for existence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstrʌɡl fɔːr ɪɡˈzɪstəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstrʌɡl fɔːr ɪɡˈzɪstəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a dog-eat-dog world (related concept)”
- “only the strong survive (related concept)”
- “survival of the fittest (near synonym)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STRUGGLE, like a wrestling match, where the prize is your very EXISTENCE (life/survival).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A BATTLE/COMPETITION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'struggle for existence' LEAST appropriate?