livelihood
/ˈlʌɪvlɪhʊd
/noun
A means of securing the necessities of life: people whose livelihoods depend on the rainforest...
- For many whose livelihoods depended on the yard the future has already disappeared.
- Of course many fishermen are against this because their livelihood depends on it.
- In the city people have relied on business to supply jobs to maintain their livelihoods.
Synonyms
income, source of income, means of support, means, living, subsistence, keep, maintenance, sustenance, nourishment, daily bread, upkeep;
job, day job, work, employment, occupation, trade, profession, career
informal bread and butter
Origin
Old English līflād 'way of life', from līf 'life' + lād 'course' (see lode). The change in the word's form in the 16th century was due to association with lively and -hood.