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

The mosque’s chairman works a taxi driver and relied on the car as his livelihood, according to the manager. —Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

Critics, including from Dartmouth’s own student body, accused her of being tone-deaf to the concerns of artists and writers whose livelihoods are threatened by AI automation. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025

The milestone comes with grim ramifications for marine ecosystems and human livelihoods. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2025

Lamont Hopewell, a driver that delivers on behalf of Amazon’s DBK4 facility in Queens, said the bill would have a positive impact on his and other workers’ livelihoods. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 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