sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s 

1

a

: means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living

b

: food, provisions

also : nourishment

2

a

: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained

b

: a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life

3

: something that gives support, endurance, or strength

Synonyms

• aliment
• food
• nourishment
• pabulum

Examples of sustenance in a Sentence

Tree bark provides deer with sustenance in periods of drought.

The village depends on the sea for sustenance.

She draws spiritual sustenance from daily church attendance.

Recent Examples on the Web

While my dad is an excellent cook, his lunches usually focus on sustenance rather than enjoyment. —Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025

The couple was arrested on suspicion of depriving animals of sustenance or causing needless suffering, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday in a news release. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 20 Mar. 2025

But here in the Mediterranean, these chestnuts had lived for centuries, providing nourishment for humans and animals as well as timber for shelter and economic sustenance. —Ben Seal, JSTOR Daily, 19 Mar. 2025

Sweetness and sustenance — pleasure and wealth, metaphorically speaking — are being put away for safekeeping. —A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s 

1

a

: means of support, maintenance, or existence

b

: nourishment sense 1

2

: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained

especially : a supplying with the necessities of life

3

: something that gives support, help, or strength