Survivalist lingo is an every evolving world of acronyms and euphemisms that can be hard for newbies to decode. Check out our survival glossary to get up to speed on the latest in the survival speak – great resource for budding preppers!

  • BOB: Bug-out bag
  • BOL: Bug-out location
  • BOV: Bug-out vehicle
  • Civie: This is US Military slang for civilian.
  • CODEX: Newly developed food standards which my adversely affect modern farmers and the seek to control food supply. See also: Codex
  • Camo: Slang for Camouflage
  • DIY: Acronym for Do It Yourself
  • Doomer: The Peak Oil crowd’s term for someone that foresees a chaotic societal collapse when oil supplies get short. .
  • EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse.
  • EOTW: End of the World (see TEOTWAWKI)
  • ETA: Estimated time of arrival
  • G.O.O.D.: Get Out of Dodge (as in Dodge City). Escaping from areas with high population density (usually big cities) to rural areas in the event of a disaster.
  • FDA: Food and Drug Administration (this is a Federal Government Agency)
  • FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency(this is a Federal Government Agency) GWOT: Global War on Terror
  • G.O.O.D. Kit: Get Out of Dodge Kit. Basically a Bug-Out Bag (BOB) but on a larger scale.
  • H5N1: The CDC’s designation for one of the current strains of the Asian Avian Flu Also called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). See my article on How to Survive a Flu Outbreak
  • Prepper: Someone who practices preparedness heavily, also known as “survivalists” (See also: Beginners Guide to Prepping
  • Root Cellar: Underground storage area used for food and/or shelter. Common among Preppers.
  • SHTF: Shit hits the fan or Schumer hits the fan. This means, when disaster strikes.
  • Survival: Essentially means “to be alive” or “to exist”. Can also be used to describe avoidance of death.
  • Survivalist: One who practices “survivalism”
  • Survivalism: The process and practice of becoming prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
  • Survival Gear: Any piece of equipment used to aid in prolonging the life of a human being (particularly in survival situations).
  • Survival Dog: A canine who has been trained with specific traits that would be helpful in survival situation.
  • Survival Retreat: A property that is stocked with everything you need to survive the EOTW. (See my article on alternative housing ideas)
  • TEOTWAWKI The End of the World as We Know It.
  • WTSHTF: When the shit hits the fan. Same as SHTF