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
This could be my dad’s livelihood, my livelihood, going away because of false accusations.
—
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Not only does air travel uncertainty have direct consequences for the flying economy, but downstream effects impact tourism, tax revenues, and airport vendors’ livelihoods.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
As musicians’ livelihoods face brutal challenges ranging from the economics of streaming services to political changes and the threat of AI, developing and nurturing an alternative business model built on higher values, networking, and community might not be so unrealistic.
—Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lot of people’s jobs, and there’s a lot of people’s livelihoods, and there’s a whole ecosystem around it.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for livelihood
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Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Not only does air travel uncertainty have direct consequences for the flying economy, but downstream effects impact tourism, tax revenues, and airport vendors’ livelihoods.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
As musicians’ livelihoods face brutal challenges ranging from the economics of streaming services to political changes and the threat of AI, developing and nurturing an alternative business model built on higher values, networking, and community might not be so unrealistic.
—Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lot of people’s jobs, and there’s a lot of people’s livelihoods, and there’s a whole ecosystem around it.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for livelihood
Cite this Entry
“Livelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livelihood. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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livelihood
noun
live·li·hood
ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d
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