survivor guilt

/sərˌvaɪvər gɪlt/

Definitions of survivor guilt

1. noun

   a deep feeling of guilt often experienced by those who have survived some catastrophe that took the lives of many others; derives in part from a feeling that they did not do enough to save the others who perished and in part from feelings of being unworthy relative to those who died
   “survivor guilt was first noted in those who survived the Holocaust”

   type of:

   guilt, guilt feelings, guilt trip, guilty conscience

   remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offense