Livelihood Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：source of income (livelihood)

livelihood 🔊

/ˈlaɪvlihʊd/

It refers to the way someone earns money or gets what they need to support their daily life, like a job or a source of income.

source of income 🔊

➕

/sɔːrs əv ˈɪnkʌm/

The means by which a person earns money or obtains necessities to support daily life, typically through a job, trade, or business.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：中级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'līf' (life) + 'lād' (way), later altered under influence of 'lively' and '-hood'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'live + hood'—the hood (covering) you need to keep your life going: your job or income source.

📖 Example

Many families in the village rely on farming as their main livelihood. 🔊 Many families in the village depend on farming as their primary source of income.

🔗 Collocations

means of livelihood – The methods or resources used to earn a living

livelihood security – The state of having stable and reliable income

livelihood strategy – A planned approach to generate income and support oneself

🔄 Synonyms

living (n.) – The money or resources needed to support life

occupation (n.) – A job or profession that provides income

employment (n.) – Paid work that provides a livelihood

🚫 Antonyms

unemployment (n.) – The state of being without paid work

poverty (n.) – The condition of lacking sufficient income or resources

🌱 Derivatives

livelihoods (n.) – Plural form; different sources of income or ways of living

📖 Cultural Story

Originally 'līflād' (life-course) in Old English, it evolved through Middle English 'livelode' to modern spelling 'livelihood' by folk etymology associating it with 'lively'. Now commonly used to describe one's means of economic survival.