livestock

noun

live·​stock ˈlīv-ˌstäk How to pronounce livestock (audio)
: animals kept or raised for use or pleasure
especially : farm animals kept for use and profit

Examples of livestock in a Sentence

a market where livestock are bought and sold a market where livestock is bought and sold
Recent Examples on the Web In some farm areas, meanwhile, streams are drying up, some crop yields are down by 40 percent, and livestock that would normally be grazing green pastures at this time of year are eating hay. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023 Will there be livestock on display at the Harvest Fair? Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2023 Contributor Historically, raising livestock was a simple job done by rural communities to sustain themselves. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023 People in need could stop by Grant’s family’s property for help, where the family raised livestock and produce, and receive food and shelter, according to her niece, Leslie Reliford. Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023 Here in the southern state of Oaxaca — among Mexico’s poorest — a weaker dollar means fewer pesos to buy livestock, food and other necessities, or pay for quinceañeras, marriages and funerals. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023 Utah dedicates fully 68 percent of its available water to growing alfalfa, even though livestock generate an insignificant 0.2 percent of the state’s income. Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2023 His first job as county agent in rural Wyoming was helping ranchers build earthen dams to secure water for their livestock. Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2023 The trip can cost $8,000 to $10,000, a hefty sum that some families manage by selling land or livestock. Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'livestock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1687, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of livestock was circa 1687

Dictionary Entries Near livestock

Cite this Entry

“Livestock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livestock. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

livestock

noun
live·​stock ˈlīv-ˌstäk How to pronounce livestock (audio)
: animals kept or raised
especially : farm animals kept for use and profit
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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