: the amount of food, money, etc., that is needed to stay alive
They depended on hunting and fishing for subsistence.
Farming is their means of subsistence.
subsistence farming/agriculture [=farming that provides enough food to live on but not enough food to sell to other people]
More than a quarter of the population lives below (the) subsistence level. [=a level of income that provides only enough money for basic needs]
Cite this Entry
“Subsistence.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/subsistence. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
