subsistence Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun minimal (or marginal) resources for subsisting
- social security provided only a bare subsistence
noun a means of surviving
- farming is a hard means of subsistence
noun the state of existing in reality; having substance

Cf. F. subsistance, L. subsistentia.

Real being; existence.
Not only the things had subsistence, but the very images were of some creatures existing. Stillingfleet.
Inherency; as, the subsistence of qualities in bodies.
That which furnishes support to animal life; means of support; provisions, or that which produces provisions; livelihood; as, a meager subsistence.
His viceroy could only propose to himself a comfortable subsistence out of the plunder of his province. Addison.
(Theol.) Same as Hypostasis, 2. Hooker.