livelihood
LYVE-lee-hood
/ˈlaɪvlihʊd/
A means of securing the necessities of life.
Refers to the job or activity that pays for your rent and food.
The story behind the word. From the Old English 'liflad', meaning 'life-course'. Over time, the suffix '-lad' was confused with '-hood' (as in childhood), leading to the modern spelling.
Word relationships
- subsistence: Focuses on the bare minimum needed to survive.
- vocation: Focuses on a 'calling' or career path, regardless of pay.
Commonly confused with
- lifestyle: Lifestyle is how you live; livelihood is how you pay for it.
Collocations
- earn a livelihood
- threaten a livelihood
- sole livelihood
Example sentences
- "For a professional boxer, his hands are his livelihood; an injury can be financially devastating." Professional athlete's perspective.
- "The three-year suspension threatened the athlete's very livelihood." Impact of a ban.
Memory hook
It is the 'HOOD' (neighborhood) where your 'LIVE'lihood keeps you. The way you live.
When not to use
Don't use for a hobby; it must be the primary source of survival.
Fun facts
- In the Middle Ages, a 'livelihood' often referred to the land one owned that provided food.
Related words
Explore more words
subsist, provisions, self-sufficient, income, underprivileged, destitute
Also appears in
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