livestock

noun

live·​stock ˈlīv-ˌstäk How to pronounce livestock (audio)
Synonyms of livestocknext
: animals kept or raised for use or pleasure
especially : farm animals kept for use and profit

Examples of livestock in a Sentence

a market where livestock are bought and sold a market where livestock is bought and sold
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The chickens, treated less like livestock and more like family, are the reason nobody listens. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 After their return to the Negev Lot and Abraham both have large flocks of livestock, but their herders begin to quarrel. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026 The parasitic fly's larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, pets, and wildlife. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The measure specifies that grizzlies would not be introduced to California unless a study shows they can be brought back safely for residents, livestock and pets. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for livestock

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1687, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of livestock was circa 1687

Rhymes for livestock

See All Rhymes for livestock

Browse Nearby Words

live steam
livestock
live storage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Livestock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livestock. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

livestock

noun
live·​stock ˈlīv-ˌstäk How to pronounce livestock (audio)
: animals kept or raised
especially : farm animals kept for use and profit
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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