subsistence farming

American  

Or subsistence agriculture

noun

1. farming whose products are intended to provide for the basic needs of the farmer, with little surplus for marketing.

2. farming that brings little or no profit to the farmer, allowing only for a marginal livelihood.

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subsistence farming British  

noun

1. a type of farming in which most of the produce ( subsistence crop ) is consumed by the farmer and his family, leaving little or nothing to be marketed

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subsistence farming Cultural  

1. Farming that provides enough food for the farmer and his family but not enough for sale. By comparison, commercial farming is farming that provides products for sale.

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Etymology

Origin of subsistence farming

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

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 • Oct. 9, 2025

Time to Google “What is subsistence farming and how do I start doing it in my yard?”

From Slate • May 27, 2025

“It was like subsistence farming — we were living hand to mouth,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 22, 2023

As a teenager, he saw little future here, beyond subsistence farming and helping his father gather wood for charcoal along the slopes of the nearly 10,000-foot Cerro Picacho.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2023

We’re also trying to keep open the agricultural extension program, training former rubber workers to subsistence farming.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver