livelihood
UK: ˈlaɪvlihʊd | US: ˈlaɪvlihʊd
n. a means of securing the necessities of life; a way of earning income to support oneself
livelihood = live<life> + li<like> + hood<state/condition>
- live (from Old English līf "life")
- li (variant of -ly, from Old English -līc "like, body")
- hood (from Old English -hād "state, condition, rank")
Etymology Origin:
The word "livelihood" originated in Middle English as livelode, combining live (life) and lode (course, way). Over time, lode evolved into -lihood under the influence of the suffix -hood, which denotes a state or condition. Thus, "livelihood" literally means "the state or way of life," reflecting one’s means of sustaining existence.
Fishing is the primary livelihood for many coastal communities.
She lost her livelihood when the factory closed down.
Education can open doors to better livelihood opportunities.
Farming has been his family’s livelihood for generations.
The pandemic threatened the livelihoods of millions of workers.