subsistence
suhb-SIS-tuhns
/səbˈsɪstəns/
The action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level.
Usually used in the context of 'subsistence farming,' where farmers grow only enough to feed themselves and their families, with nothing left to sell.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'subsistere,' meaning 'to stand still' or 'to stay.' It implies staying in one place or at one level—just enough to keep from falling.
Word relationships
- survival: Survival is the act of staying alive; subsistence is the specific economic level that allows for survival.
- affluence: The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.
Commonly confused with
- sustenance: Sustenance is the food itself; subsistence is the state of living at the minimum level.
Word family
- subsist (verb): To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Collocations
- subsistence farming
- subsistence level
- subsistence economy
- bare subsistence
Example sentences
- "Many families in the region still rely on subsistence farming for their survival." Agricultural history.
- "The subsistence wage is the lowest wage upon which a worker can survive." Economic theory.
Memory hook
Subsistence = Sub-Existence. It is a level of existence that is 'sub' (under) what is comfortable. Subsistence = Bare minimum.
When not to use
Do not use it to describe a comfortable or wealthy lifestyle.
Fun facts
- A 'subsistence crisis' occurs when the price of food rises so high that the poor can no longer afford even the basic calories needed to survive.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.