subsistence

American  

[suhb-sis-tuhns] / səbˈsɪs təns /

noun

1. the state or fact of subsisting.

2. the state or fact of existing.

3. the providing of sustenance or support.

   Synonyms:

   nourishment, maintenance, survival

4. means of supporting life; a living or livelihood.

5. the source from which food and other items necessary to exist are obtained.

6. Philosophy.

   1. existence, especially of an independent entity.

   2. the quality of having timeless or abstract existence.

   3. mode of existence or that by which a substance is individualized.

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subsistence British  

/ səbˈsɪstəns /

noun

1. the means by which one maintains life

2. the act or condition of subsisting

3. a thing that has real existence

4. the state of being inherent

5. philosophy an inferior mode of being ascribed to the references of general terms which do not in fact exist See also nonbeing

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Other Word Forms

• intersubsistence noun
• nonsubsistence noun
• presubsistence noun
• self-subsistence noun

Etymology

Origin of subsistence

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin subsistentia; subsist, -ence

Example Sentences

"The recent expansion in employment reflects economic distress leading to subsistence work, rather than growth-driven better quality job creation," they say.

From BBC

Together, these remains point to a balanced subsistence strategy that combined fishing, hunting, gathering, and farming.

From Science Daily

In the South, entire families worked long hours for subsistence wages in company-owned villages.

From The Wall Street Journal

The two companies, which operate and manage Scotland's nationalised ferry networks, have spent £1,016,162 on remuneration, subsistence, accommodation, flights and car hires on staff visiting the Turkish yard since 2022.

From BBC

Its agro-ecological diversity is critical for subsistence farming and staple food crops, such as avocados, cassava and maize, as well as export products like cocoa, coffee, bananas and cotton.

From Barron's

Related Words

• livelihood
• ration
• sustenance