Livelihood vs. Sustenance

A means of providing the necessities of life for oneself (for example, a job or income).

Example: ‘an independent livelihood; to make / earn / gain a good livelihood’;

Property which brings in an income; an estate.

(obsolete) Liveliness; appearance of life.

(obsolete) The course of someone's life; a person's lifetime, or their manner of living; conduct, behaviour.

Subsistence or living, as dependent on some means of support; the means for support of life; maintenance.

Example: ‘The opportunities of gaining an honest livelihood.’; ‘It is their profession and livelihood to get their living by practices for which they deserve to forfeit their lives.’;

Liveliness; appearance of life.

the financial means whereby one lives;

Example: ‘each child was expected to pay for their keep’; ‘he applied to the state for support’; ‘he could no longer earn his own livelihood’;

A person's livelihood (derived from life-lode, cf. OG lib-leit) refers to their .

Example: ‘way of life’; ‘means of securing the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing) of life’;

Something that provides support or nourishment.

The act of sustaining; support; maintenance; subsistence; as, the sustenance of the body; the sustenance of life.

That which supports life; food; victuals; provisions; means of living; as, the city has ample sustenance.

Example: ‘For lying is thy sustenance, thy food.’;

a source of materials to nourish the body

the financial means whereby one lives;

Example: ‘each child was expected to pay for their keep’; ‘he applied to the state for support’; ‘he could no longer earn his own livelihood’;

the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence;

Example: ‘they were in want of sustenance’; ‘fishing was their main sustainment’;

Sustenance can refer to any means of subsistence or livelihood.