sustenance

noun

sus·te·nance ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s

Synonyms of sustenance

: means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living

: food, provisions

also : nourishment

: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained

: a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life

: something that gives support, endurance, or strength

Examples of sustenance in a Sentence

Tree bark provides deer with sustenance in periods of drought. The village depends on the sea for sustenance. She draws spiritual sustenance from daily church attendance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

To provide that sustenance that gives people life and well-being. — Arkansas Online, 10 July 2026 One of the researchers’ biggest surprises was the discovery of a particular type of shell from the mollusk Columbella rustica, too small to provide sustenance, in both the Neanderthal and Homo sapiens layers. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 The harm from a dramatic AI-induced increase in mass unemployment would not be cured simply with Universal Basic Income, a policy that shares the gains of AI by simply cutting equal checks to ensure basic sustenance for all. — Gene Sperling, Time, 1 July 2026 The winning photos and finalists in 27 categories showcase photography's unique ability to tell global food stories and underscore food's crucial importance from sustenance to celebration in communities worldwide. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of sustenance was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

sustain pedal

sustenance

sustenant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustenance. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sustenance

noun

sus·te·nance ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s

: means of support, maintenance, or existence

: nourishment sense 1

: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained

especially : a supplying with the necessities of life

: something that gives support, help, or strength

sustenance

noun

Synonyms of sustenance

Examples of sustenance in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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