subsistence
Americannoun
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the state or fact of subsisting.
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the state or fact of existing.
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the providing of sustenance or support.
- Synonyms:
- nourishment, maintenance, survival
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means of supporting life; a living or livelihood.
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the source from which food and other items necessary to exist are obtained.
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Philosophy.
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existence, especially of an independent entity.
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the quality of having timeless or abstract existence.
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mode of existence or that by which a substance is individualized.
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noun
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the means by which one maintains life
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the act or condition of subsisting
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a thing that has real existence
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the state of being inherent
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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
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100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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Revolution in Our Time
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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.
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
"See… I recovered," the subsistence farmer said as he raised his hands in the air three times in a victory salute and in praise of God.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
A decade and a half of gloom followed, during which, Mr. Gittlitz notes, the atmosphere of Dust Bowl privation at Shea was underscored by corn and tomato plants growing like subsistence crops in the bullpen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
Nearly half of India's population also continues to rely on agriculture for subsistence.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
Farming in the north was subsistence farming, nothing more; and nothing could be less.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
