sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s 

1

a

: means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living

b

: food, provisions

also : nourishment

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

Synonyms of sustenance

• food
• nourishment

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

Picture yourself at the outset of a long road trip or backpacking journey, with nothing but a small amount of gear and some ideas for generating money and sustenance along the way. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026

Marine microbes such as bacteria and phytoplankton form the foundation of ocean food webs, providing sustenance for creatures ranging from zooplankton to whales and supporting fisheries that feed billions of people. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Sometimes, those familiar chord changes provide enough sustenance to get by. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026

For Matt Damon, gluten is not the sustenance of heroes. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s 

1

a

: means of support, maintenance, or existence

b

: nourishment sense 1

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