livelihood

noun

live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d 

1

: means of support or subsistence (see subsistence sense 2)

The villagers' main livelihood is fishing.

2

obsolete : the quality or state of being lively

Examples of livelihood in a Sentence

Many fishermen believe that the new regulations threaten their livelihoods.

Recent Examples on the Web

When those food chains are disrupted, that's bad for coastal communities, bad for food security and livelihoods. —ArsTechnica, 20 June 2025

As the fish began to disappear, so did people’s livelihoods, and in some cases, desperation filled the void. —Jp Mangalindan, Time, 19 June 2025

Farm laborers, many of whom have lived and worked in their communities for decades, were terrified of being rounded up and deported, separated from their families and livelihoods. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025

Any bill that halts billions of dollars of infrastructure and energy investments is a direct threat to the futures and livelihoods of workers across the country. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English livelode course of life, from Old English līflād, from līf + lād course — more at lode

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for livelihood

• misunderstood
• unlikelihood
• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood

Kids Definition

livelihood

noun

live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d 

: living entry 2 sense 3