The term "sole survivor" refers to a person who is left as the only one remaining after an event or situation in which others have perished, died or been lost. This can refer to natural disasters such as plane crashes, shipwrecks, or other accidents where there are fatalities and one individual manages to survive despite the odds. The phrase is also used in a broader sense to describe someone who has outlived friends, family members, or others close to them, or even an entire group of people with whom they were associated. In essence, being a sole survivor means that you have endured and overcome extreme adversity while surrounded by loss and tragedy.