Word
subsistence
Phoneticssub·sis·tence, stress on the second syllable
US/səbˈsɪstəns/
UK/sʌbsˈɪstəns/
Definitions
01survival resources
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. the food, water, and money you need to stay alive.
n. the means of supporting life, particularly the barest necessities required for survival.
“The family grew their own vegetables for subsistence during the long winter.”
“Many rural communities in the region still rely on subsistence farming, producing only enough crops to feed their own households.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier, as in 'subsistence farming' or 'subsistence wages'.
Synonyms
02minimum level of living
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of keeping yourself alive at the lowest possible level.
n. the state or fact of maintaining oneself at a minimum level of existence.
“The government provided a small payment to ensure the basic subsistence of the refugees.”
“The social security system was designed to provide a safety net that guaranteed a basic level of subsistence for all citizens.”
Usage
Commonly follows the preposition 'for' or 'of'.
Antonyms
03existence
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Academic · Formal
n. the state of existing or being real.
n. the state of having actual being or existence; in philosophy, the persistence of a thing.
“The philosopher questioned the subsistence of the soul after the body dies.”
“The treaty ensured the continued subsistence of the small state as an independent political entity.”
Usage
Used primarily in philosophical or highly formal legal contexts.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Subsistence farmers feel the same way about their livestock.” Etymology
From Middle English subsistence; partly from Middle French subsistence (modern French subsistance) and partly from its etymon Late Latin subsistentia (“substance, reality, in Medieval Latin also stability”), from Latin subsistēns, present participle of subsistere (“to continue, subsist”). Perhaps also partly from subsist + -ence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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