livelihood

noun

live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce livelihood (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An artists’ livelihood lost to flames That same pungent, chemical smell had choked the air just a few miles away as the fire kept racing before dawn on January 8 through west Altadena, sending embers zipping through the air like bullets. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025 Los Angeles’ leading art institutions, including the J. Paul Getty Trust, LACMA, and the Hammer Museum, have launched a $12 million emergency fund to aid artists and cultural workers who have lost their homes, studios, or livelihoods to the wildfires still ravaging California. Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 17 Jan. 2025 As the region grapples with the sheer number of homes and buildings destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and lives lost, its signature industry will face yet another setback in the loss of go-to filming spots, particularly in the Altadena area and Pacific Palisades. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 Workers' Compensation: Workplace injuries can have a significant impact on your livelihood and well-being. William Jones, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for livelihood 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of livelihood was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near livelihood

Cite this Entry

“Livelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livelihood. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

livelihood

noun
live·​li·​hood ˈlīv-lē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce livelihood (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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