пропита́ние

nounneuterinanimateuncountablevery rarely used (#14994)

1.
food, sustenance, daily bread
Он с трудо́м добыва́л себе пропита́ние.
He could barely get enough food for himself.
Slightly formal or bookish; often with добывать/искать.
2.
subsistence, livelihood, keep
Он рабо́тает на заво́де, что́бы зарабо́тать на пропита́ние.
He works at a factory to earn his living.
Especially in зарабатывать на пропитание 'earn one's living'.

Examples

Он работал только ради пропитания семьи.
He worked solely to provide for his family.
У них всегда пробле́мы с пропита́нием.
They are always hard up for food.
Денег хватало лишь на скромное пропитание.
There was only enough money for modest sustenance.