sustenance
/ˈsʌs.tə.nəns/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Sustenance is food and drink that keep a person or animal alive. It can also mean support that helps someone continue or survive.
- We carried enough sustenance for the long hike.
- The village depended on the river for sustenance.
- Her family gave her emotional sustenance.
Adinary Nuance
Sustenance is more formal than everyday words like food or meals. It often sounds literary, serious, or old-fashioned, especially when talking about survival or support. Use it when you want to suggest something that keeps life going, not just something people eat.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự nuôi sống
- Spanish
- sustento
- Chinese
- 生存所需
- Japanese
- 生計の糧
- Korean
- 생계 수단
Etymology
Sustenance comes from Old French sustenance, from Latin sustinere meaning "to hold up" or "support." It entered English in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
basic sustenancemeans of sustenancefor sustenance
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sustenance the same as food?
- Not exactly. Food is the common word. Sustenance is more formal and can mean food, drink, or life support.
- Is sustenance used in daily conversation?
- Usually not. Most people say food, meals, or nourishment in everyday speech.
- Can sustenance mean emotional support?
- Yes. It can mean support that helps someone keep going, not just physical food.
- Is sustenance common in academic writing?
- Yes. It appears often in formal writing, especially about survival, health, and support.