# subsistence

/səbˈsɪstəns/ (US) · /sʌbsˈɪstəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/subsistence
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. survival resources

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the food, water, and money you need to stay alive.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. minimum level of living

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of keeping yourself alive at the lowest possible level.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. existence

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

the state of existing or being real.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The family lives on a subsistence level.
- Many rural communities in the region still rely on subsistence farming, growing only enough crops to feed their own families.
- The transition from subsistence economies to market-based systems often disrupts traditional social structures, as individuals begin producing surplus goods for trade rather than focusing solely on immediate survival.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.