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noun Common

livestock

LYVS-tok

Livestock (noun) means Animals kept on a farm, such as cattle, sheep, or pigs, raised for food, labour, or other products. Example: “The farm keeps livestock as well as growing crops.”

noun
1
Animals kept on a farm, such as cattle, sheep, or pigs, raised for food, labour, or other products.
"The farm keeps livestock as well as growing crops."
"Livestock prices rose sharply this year."

How to use livestock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFarm animals raised for food or work.

Common pairings
raise livestock livestock farming livestock market

Word forms

livestocks plural

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Test yourself on “livestock” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farm keeps _____ as well as growing crops.

Etymology

A compound of live + stock, "stock" here meaning goods or property kept on a farm.

cattle farm animals stock herd

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for livestock

See all rhymes for livestock →

Frequently asked questions

What does “livestock” mean?

The word “livestock” means animals kept on a farm, such as cattle, sheep, or pigs, raised for food, labour, or other products. In plain terms, farm animals raised for food or work.

How do you pronounce “livestock”?

“Livestock” is pronounced LYVS-tok (/ˈlaɪvstɑk/ in IPA).

How do you use “livestock” in a sentence?

Here is “livestock” used in a sentence: “The farm keeps livestock as well as growing crops.”

What is the opposite of “livestock”?

The opposite of “livestock” — its antonyms — is deadstock.

What part of speech is “livestock”?

“Livestock” is a noun.

Is “livestock” a common word?

“Livestock” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between livestock and cattle?

Livestock is a broad term for all animals kept on a farm and raised for food, labour, or other products, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry. Cattle refers specifically to cows and bulls, making it just one category within livestock.

Is livestock singular or plural?

Livestock is a collective noun that is grammatically singular but refers to multiple animals as a group, similar to "cattle" or "sheep." It's used with singular verb forms, as in "the livestock is grazing," though usage can vary.

What kinds of animals count as livestock?

Livestock covers animals raised on a farm for food, labour, or other products, most commonly cattle, sheep, and pigs. The term generally excludes pets and wild animals, focusing on animals kept for agricultural or economic purposes.

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