noun · neutral

livelihood

UK/ˈlaɪvlihʊd/US/ˈlaɪvˌlɪhʊd/LIVE·li·hood

Band 5-6speakingtask2

the way someone earns money and sustains themselves

Examples

Many coastal communities rely on fishing as their main livelihood.

When the mine closed, the miners lost their livelihoods overnight.

Tourism provides a livelihood for thousands of island residents.

Band 8 sentence

In many rural regions, diversified small-scale agriculture remains the most reliable livelihood for local households.

Collocations

  • earn a livelihood
  • sustain a livelihood
  • secure one's livelihood

Word family

live verbliving noun / adjectivelivelihood noun

Common mistakes

He makes livelihood by fishing.He makes his livelihood by fishing.

She lost livelihoods after the factory closed.She lost her livelihood after the factory closed.

Say it for a higher band

5job6income7+livelihood

Synonyms

living

occupation

Easily confused

living

Many people make a living by selling food on the street.

Related words

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In -hood

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