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

Nobody wanted to be the one to put people’s livelihoods on the table, so each week the conversation found a softer place to land. — Mohamed Al Hashemi, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The strikes on Wildberries, Russia’s equivalent to e-commerce giant Amazon, have brought Moscow’s war on Ukraine even closer to home by disrupting the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Russians. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Coupled with the lingering problems from last year’s dry winter, some farmers say their livelihood in the fields is literally and figuratively drying up. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 July 2026

Across San Francisco Bay Area campuses and offices, employees describe mounting pressure to embrace AI tools even as layoffs spread, early-career coders struggle to find work and creative industries worry their livelihoods could be automated away. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English livelode course of life, from Old English līflād, from līf + lād course — more at lode

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for livelihood

• misunderstood
• unlikelihood
• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood

Kids Definition

livelihood

noun

live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d 

: living entry 2 sense 3