Definitions

livelihood

[lahyv-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪv liˌhʊd /

NOUN

occupation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

employment income living subsistence sustenance

STRONG

alimentation art business circumstances craft game grind job keep maintenance means profession racket resources slot support thing trade vocation work

WEAK

bread and butter nine-to-five rat race source of income what one is into

Antonyms

STRONG

avocation entertainment fun pastime recreation unemployment

Usage

What are other ways to say livelihood? Livelihood and the less formal word living, both refer to what one earns to keep (oneself) alive, but are seldom interchangeable within the same phrase: to threaten one's livelihood; to earn one's living. “To make a livelihood out of something” suggests making a business of it: to make a livelihood out of knitting hats. “To make a living” suggests making just enough to keep alive, and is particularly frequent in the negative: You cannot make a living out of that. Maintenance refers usually to what is spent for the living of another: to provide for the maintenance of someone. Maintenance occasionally refers to the allowance itself provided for livelihood: They are entitled to a maintenance from this estate.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As additional atmospheric CO2 enters the air, it dissolves into the ocean more quickly than anticipated, driving a rapid drop in pH that threatens coastal industries and livelihoods around the world.

From Science Daily

"Our homes and sources of livelihood were destroyed," he told the BBC in September.

From BBC

Their livelihoods encouraged them to live in small, scattered settlements to reduce the effort and time required to reach their fields.

From Science Daily

Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said rural crime "can wreak havoc on the livelihoods of farmers and countryside communities."

From BBC

Across Central America, Indigenous and local communities are working to restore damaged lands, prevent forest fires, and revive traditional, bird-friendly livelihoods such as sustainable allspice and cacao production.

From Science Daily

livelihood

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words