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:
Drolma’s livelihood depends on her ability to spot the best mushrooms at the auction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 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
"We are almost left without any means of livelihood, because we don't receive a salary anywhere ... we are self-employed," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Sam Dimond, owner of event production company Spotlight Sound, said he had lost his livelihood in the fire.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The world was too small, and both my safety and my livelihood were at stake.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Los Angeles’ identity and workers’ livelihoods are at stake, say worried residents who fear that Paramount will leave the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
"The Himalayas are approaching a tipping point, with millions of lives and livelihoods hanging in the balance," said Arushi Chopra, Systemiq's senior director and lead author.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
“Restoring access to the U.S. market would support Greenlandic hunters and communities, while also sending a powerful signal that America respects Greenlanders’ culture, livelihoods and right to make these choices for themselves,” Swets said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 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
They walk under a cluster of trees which, only hours ago, housed the livelihoods of food hawkers.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
