subsistence
nounfeminineformal/subsiʃˈtẽsjɐ/medium
sub·sis·tên·ci·a
Definition
The means by which one maintains life; the minimum resources necessary for survival.
Farming provided their basic subsistence.
They lived at a mere subsistence level.
Common collocations
means of subsistencesubsistence farmingsubsistence levelbare subsistence
Etymology
Do latim 'subsistentia', de 'subsistere' (manter-se, permanecer).