livelihood
Americannoun
-
livelihoods
plural
noun
Usage
What are other ways to say livelihood? A person’s livelihood is their means of supporting existence, especially financially or vocationally. Do you know the difference between livelihood, living, and maintenance? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of livelihood
before 1000; earlier liveliod, livelihod, alteration (by reanalysis as lively + -hood; compare obsolete livelihood liveliness) of Middle English livelod, Old English līflād conduct of life, way of life ( see life, lode, load)
Explanation
Your livelihood is the job you work at to earn the income that supports you. The word livelihood started out as the Old English līflād, or "course of life," and around the 13th century changed to livelode, which meant "a means of keeping one alive." As "-lode" morphed into "-hood," which meant "state, condition," the meaning of the word also changed to mean support for a person's life. That naturally came to mean your job, which provides the monetary support to keep you going.
Vocabulary lists containing livelihood
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Can I Work It? Words for "Job"
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"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
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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:
She fretted that she’d be unable to rebuild her audience and livelihood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
He pledged on Monday to "make progress on livelihood issues, the economy and childcare assistance" by listening to views of all Okinawan residents.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Drolma’s livelihood depends on her ability to spot the best mushrooms at the auction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
“My livelihood is directly dependent on the environment,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 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
Meanwhile, fishermen and tourism workers fear for their livelihoods.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
They had their lives and livelihoods turned upside-down due to the now dropped charges, the lawyers said.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
While it meant a lot that I was so concerned about people’s livelihoods, he said, we were doing the team a disservice by keeping a business going that wasn’t making a profit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
I’m sympathetic to the idea that crews’ livelihoods and fans’ investment in the shows are meaningful things to toss out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Well, since we’re claiming this is an emergency and that many livelihoods are at stake, I’d say three to six months.”
From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
