sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s How to pronounce sustenance (audio)
1
a
: means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living
2
a
: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained
b
: a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life
3
: something that gives support, endurance, or strength

Examples of sustenance in a Sentence

Tree bark provides deer with sustenance in periods of drought. The village depends on the sea for sustenance. She draws spiritual sustenance from daily church attendance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Where to Eat Meals on Le Grand Tour are far more than sustenance; their narrative experiences. Jennifer Schwartz, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025 To this day, some restaurants in the state honor that early sustenance with their own hearty dishes. The Know, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025 Anastasia Palulis, 38, and Robert Palulis, 48, were charged with 22 misdemeanor counts under New York's agriculture and markets law of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025 All were prepared to face the brutality of the Israeli soldiers for the sake of some sustenance. Ahmed Dader august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sustenance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustenance was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustenance. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

sustenance

noun
sus·​te·​nance ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s How to pronounce sustenance (audio)
1
a
: means of support, maintenance, or existence
2
: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained
especially : a supplying with the necessities of life
3
: something that gives support, help, or strength

More from Merriam-Webster on sustenance

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