Definitions

livelihood

[lahyv-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪv liˌhʊd /

NOUN

occupation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

employment income living subsistence sustenance

STRONG

alimentation art business circumstances craft game grind job keep maintenance means profession racket resources slot support thing trade vocation work

WEAK

bread and butter nine-to-five rat race source of income what one is into

Antonyms

STRONG

avocation entertainment fun pastime recreation unemployment

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.

"This is their livelihood, they had mouths to feed, they need to live. As a commuter, I need to understand their situation as well."

From BBC

"I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine."

From BBC

Weavers and bank tellers feared for their livelihoods at the time, but the Industrial Revolution led to significantly more hiring in the textile sector, and banks increased employment after ATMs were introduced.

From The Wall Street Journal

The authors said for too long the group has been ignored but "are an essential part of people's livelihoods".

From BBC

Elmer Rice’s “The Adding Machine,” an expressionist classic on automation and worker insecurity, speaks directly to an age in which livelihoods are threatened by AI innovation.

From Los Angeles Times

livelihood

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words