Words / C1

LYVL-eeh-ud/ˈlaɪvlihʊd/

A livelihood is how you earn the money you live on: lose your livelihood, a rural livelihood. Job and living are everyday; lifestyle (already in the dictionary) is how you live, not how you are paid. Lively is a lookalike. Do not rebrand someone’s livelihood as a “stretch opportunity” to avoid paying.

Meaning

The work or resources that provide the money you live on.

Examples

• “Invigilation was her livelihood, not a “stretch opportunity”.”
• “Job is everyday and countable. A living (make a living) is close. Lifestyle is consumption and habits. Lively is energetic. Unpaid prestige is not a livelihood.”

Good to know

How you earn a living. Everyday: job / living. Mix-up: lifestyle (how you live). Not unpaid prestige.

Near in meaning

living

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