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
More than 50 years ago, Migrant Legal Aid (MLA) began showing up in places like these, often unseen and uninvited, to defend the dignity, health and livelihood of farmworkers.
—
David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Companies protect workers’ livelihoods by guaranteeing employment and covering training costs, showing that their adaptability and human judgment are valuable assets.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Still, the federal grants and contracts frozen in April in part over that issue remain locked up, meaning the turmoil for Harvard scholars who rely on that money for their research – and their livelihoods – are still in chaos.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
For everyone else, this trend offers hope that renewable energy can coexist with rural livelihoods, boost biodiversity and fight climate change, all at once.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for livelihood
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David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Companies protect workers’ livelihoods by guaranteeing employment and covering training costs, showing that their adaptability and human judgment are valuable assets.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Still, the federal grants and contracts frozen in April in part over that issue remain locked up, meaning the turmoil for Harvard scholars who rely on that money for their research – and their livelihoods – are still in chaos.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
For everyone else, this trend offers hope that renewable energy can coexist with rural livelihoods, boost biodiversity and fight climate change, all at once.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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livelihood
noun
live·li·hood
ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d
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