livelihood

noun

live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce livelihood (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Funds focused on agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, women leadership and development, military training and education, and programs to strengthen the private sector, along with, curiously, just over $11 million to support nonproliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Mara Kardas-Nelson, The Dial, 8 Apr. 2025 Bradley Whitford is risking his livelihood — and now with all the MAGA loons on the loose, his safety — to do the right thing. Trish Deitch, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025 It's been a real roller-coaster of a week here at PCMag, as our livelihood depends on being able to judge the value of consumer electronics based on their prices. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025 Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, and millions of livelihoods have vanished. Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for livelihood

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of livelihood was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Livelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livelihood. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

livelihood

noun
live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce livelihood (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on livelihood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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