Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for livelihood. Search instead for slavehood.
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.

See Examples For:

“My livelihood is directly dependent on the environment,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 5, 2026

His videos drew dozens of aspiring food truck owners, many of them immigrants like Ochoa, who entrusted him with their life savings in hopes of turning their dreams into a livelihood.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 29, 2026

"I wouldn't jeopardise my business by selling a fake. This is my livelihood," he said.

From BBC Aug. 18, 2026

"Our seas are not an empty void or a buffer zone between global powers -- they are our estate, our livelihood, and our identity as stewards of the sea."

From Barron's Jul. 10, 2026

The argument went that we benefitted from compulsory education, as it provides a livelihood for formerly enslaved, who couldn’t find gainful employment after the war.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Much of it can be subsistence looting, with people selling antiquities because their livelihoods have been disrupted by war.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 8, 2026

"Reconstruction might take the priority over reform," he said, pointing to devastated hydropower projects, destroyed communities and the urgent need to restore livelihoods.

From Barron's Sep. 2, 2026

In the meantime it’s nice to see that the very real people who make their livelihoods building U.S. technical capacity are now speaking up.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 28, 2026

But residents still struggle to rebuild their livelihoods.

From BBC Aug. 28, 2026

Second, it encourages a healthy fear of humans—discouraging the cubs from wandering onto farms and being shot by farmers protecting their livelihoods.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh




Vocabulary lists containing livelihood


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training