sustenance

Universal Words noun [U] (formal) 1 the food and drink that people, animals and plants need to live and stay healthy: Rice was the basis of daily sustenance. * There's not much sustenance in a bowl of soup. * (figurative) Arguing would only give further sustenance to his allegations. 2 ~ (of sth) the process of making sth continue to exist: Elections are essential for the sustenance of parliamentary democracy.