subsistence

noun
UK: /səbˈsɪstəns/
US: /səbˈsɪstəns/

  1. The state of having what you need to stay alive, but not more.

    1. They live a life close to subsistence on a small farm.
    2. Many families struggle for subsistence in the drought-stricken region, barely able to feed themselves.

  2. The action or state of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level.

    1. His art provides a bare subsistence.
    2. The family's subsistence depended entirely on the small vegetable garden they cultivated with care.

Synonyms

livelihood survival sustenance maintenance
subsistence adjective

  1. Relating to or providing the basic necessities of life.

    1. Subsistence farming is common here.
    2. The subsistence level income made it difficult to afford proper medical care for the children.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "subsistence" in English means: The state of having what you need to stay alive, but not more., The action or state of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level..

The phonetic transcription of "subsistence" is /səbˈsɪstəns/ in British English and /səbˈsɪstəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "subsistence": livelihood, survival, sustenance, maintenance.

Example usage of "subsistence": "They live a life close to subsistence on a small farm.". More examples on the page.