subsistence
Americannoun
-
the state or fact of subsisting.
-
the state or fact of existing.
-
the providing of sustenance or support.
- Synonyms:
- nourishment, maintenance, survival
-
means of supporting life; a living or livelihood.
-
the source from which food and other items necessary to exist are obtained.
-
Philosophy.
-
existence, especially of an independent entity.
-
the quality of having timeless or abstract existence.
-
mode of existence or that by which a substance is individualized.
-
noun
-
the means by which one maintains life
-
the act or condition of subsisting
-
a thing that has real existence
-
the state of being inherent
-
philosophy an inferior mode of being ascribed to the references of general terms which do not in fact exist See also nonbeing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subsistence
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin subsistentia; see subsist, -ence
Explanation
Subsistence means the minimal resources that are necessary for survival. If you work for subsistence, you'll probably receive food, water, and lodging (internet access not included). Subsistence can be used in a variety of subtly different ways. In addition to referring to necessities for survival, it can indicate one's means of obtaining those necessities (usually a job). And if you feel like getting philosophical, subsistence can refer to the very act of existence itself.
Vocabulary lists containing subsistence
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
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!
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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!
Revolution in Our Time
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.
The second of seven children in a family of subsistence farmers in rural Sinaloa, Zambada stopped attending school after the sixth grade, the defense memo said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The average cost of housing an asylum seeker for one night in publicly-owned accommodation is £23.25, and £144 in a hotel - while subsistence payments range from £9.95 to £49.18 for each person per week.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Nearly half of India's population also continues to rely on agriculture for subsistence.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
In any case, he says, “in modern welfare states, the struggle for subsistence has been abolished.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
Conversely, it also befell the stubborn, conservative Greenland Norse farmers, replaced by Eskimo hunter-gatherers whose subsistence methods and technology were far superior to those of the Norse under Greenland conditions.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
