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.

“I leave with a huge amount of compassion for the rest of the agents and staff at the agency, who are being left with a situation that impacts all of our work and livelihoods.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was supposed to be published in 2023, the culmination of a direct-democracy initiative that immediately raised the hackles of agriculture lobbies that accused the government of threatening their livelihoods.

From Barron's

But this February, the sea ice in southwestern Greenland has yet to freeze, threatening traditional livelihoods like his.

From Barron's

The harms from faked honey are mostly to the livelihoods of beekeepers.

From BBC

"Our neighbours and loved ones died... people lost their livelihoods," said the father of four, who has no other income.

From Barron's

livelihood

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words