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Definitions

livelihood

[lahyv-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪv liˌhʊd /


Usage

What are other ways to say livelihood? Livelihood and the less formal word living, both refer to what one earns to keep (oneself) alive, but are seldom interchangeable within the same phrase: to threaten one's livelihood; to earn one's living. “To make a livelihood out of something” suggests making a business of it: to make a livelihood out of knitting hats. “To make a living” suggests making just enough to keep alive, and is particularly frequent in the negative: You cannot make a living out of that.  Maintenance refers usually to what is spent for the living of another: to provide for the maintenance of someone. Maintenance occasionally refers to the allowance itself provided for livelihood: They are entitled to a maintenance from this estate.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A few kilometres from Kinshasa, small-scale fishing still provides a livelihood for more than 600 families on the small river island of Kimpoko.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Parts of the novel are set in Ekwe’s village, where his farming family struggles to negotiate threats to its livelihood.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

After watching AI threaten her livelihood and creative future, ‘Younger’ author Pamela Redmond turned to the most human medium she could find: her body.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

The extension of canals and steamboat travel to some extent complemented, rather than competed with, the road’s livelihood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

They did not feel they should lose their livelihood to reward the troops, and they were angry.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby




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