livelihood
LYVE-lee-hood
/ˈlaɪvlihʊd/
A means of securing the necessities of life.
Focuses on the practical aspect of earning money to survive (food, shelter).
The story behind the word. The word is a bit of a linguistic accident. It comes from the Old English 'lif' (life) and 'lad' (way/course). Over time, 'lad' was confused with the suffix '-hood', turning 'lifelode' into 'livelihood'.
Word relationships
- subsistence: Subsistence refers to the bare minimum needed to stay alive, whereas livelihood can be more comfortable.
- income: Income is the specific money received; livelihood is the broader means of obtaining it.
- entertainment: Entertainment is for fun; livelihood is for survival.
Commonly confused with
- lifestyle: Lifestyle is how you choose to live; livelihood is how you afford to live.
Word family
- livelihoods (noun): Plural form of livelihood.
Collocations
- earn a livelihood
- threaten someone's livelihood
- source of livelihood
Example sentences
- "The new regulations threatened the livelihood of thousands of small farmers." Economic impact on people.
- "Fishing is the main livelihood for the people in this coastal village." Earning a living.
Memory hook
It is the 'hood' (neighborhood/area) where you earn your 'live' (life). Livelihood = Life-hood.
When not to use
Not used to describe the status or prestige of a job, only the survival aspect.
Fun facts
- The 'lode' in the original 'lifelode' is the same 'lode' found in 'lodestar' (a star that shows the way).
Related words
Explore more words
subsist, provisions, self-sufficient, income, underprivileged, destitute
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