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
But for Dambeck and the farmers who had pinned their hopes on the renewal of the program, the temporary freeze felt like a glimpse of what could come, a reminder that their contracts and their livelihoods may not survive beyond this season.
—
Chaewon Chung
october 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2025
These groups are crucial to sustaining food, income, and livelihoods for coastal communities.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
Your reputation, your career, your livelihood — important things are on the line.
—Jon Landau, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
People’s livelihoods will be upended.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for livelihood
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Chaewon Chung
october 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2025
These groups are crucial to sustaining food, income, and livelihoods for coastal communities.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
Your reputation, your career, your livelihood — important things are on the line.
—Jon Landau, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
People’s livelihoods will be upended.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for livelihood
Cite this Entry
“Livelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livelihood. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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livelihood
noun
live·li·hood
ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d
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