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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Can I Work It? Words for "Job"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
And unlike many people whose vocal chords are their livelihood, Araujo says he has few ritualistic habits to protect his voice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
"Obviously this is my livelihood so without it I'm not able to eat and put clothes on my back, so it's very important to me," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 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
I feel a little like that Chinese princess, whose discovery gave Desdemona her livelihood.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
And some musicians and songwriters are fearful of how these AI deals might affect livelihoods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
"A disaster originating in one part of the Himalayan region can have consequences far beyond national boundaries, affecting river systems, ecosystems, livelihoods and communities across South Asia."
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
With the decline of logging and cannabis as livelihoods, they see income from tourists attracted by ultramarathons, mushroom foraging and other outdoor activities as a financial savior.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
But residents still struggle to rebuild their livelihoods.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
People who performed great acts of physical, moral, or spiritual courage, often risking their lives or livelihoods.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
