The Britannica Dictionary
mobile search
Home
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
×
Britannica Homepage
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
The Britannica Dictionary
sustenance
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
sustenance
(noun)
sustenance
/
ˈ
sʌstənəns/
noun
sustenance
/
ˈ
sʌstənəns/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of SUSTENANCE
[
noncount
]
formal
1
:
something (such as food) that keeps someone or something alive
Tree bark provides deer with
sustenance
in periods of drought.
The village depends on the sea for
sustenance
.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
2
:
something that gives support, help, or strength
She draws spiritual
sustenance
from daily church attendance.
reading for intellectual
sustenance
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
ASK THE EDITOR
What are the plural forms of
check-in
,
passerby
, and
spoonful
?
See the answer »
QUIZZES
Vocabulary Quiz
Test your word power
Take the Quiz »
Name That Thing
Take our visual quiz
Test Your Knowledge »
WORD OF THE DAY
expensive
:
costing a lot of money
Learn More »