poor

adjective

ˈpu̇r  ˈpȯr 

1

a

: lacking material possessions

b

: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty

2

a

: less than adequate : meager

b

: small in worth

3

: exciting pity

you poor thing

4

a

: inferior in quality or value

b

: humble, unpretentious

c

: mean, petty

5

: lean, emaciated

6

: barren, unproductive

—used of land

7

: indifferent, unfavorable

8

: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified

—often used in combination

oil-poor countries

poorish

ˈpu̇r-ish 

ˈpȯr-

adjective

poorness noun

Synonyms

• beggared
• beggarly
• broke
• destitute
• dirt-poor
• down-and-out
• famished
• hard up
• impecunious
• impoverished
• indigent
• necessitous
• needful
• needy
• pauperized
• penniless
• penurious
• poverty-stricken
• skint [chiefly British]
• threadbare

Examples of poor in a Sentence

We were too poor to buy new clothes.

The organization helps poor families.

She has a poor vocabulary.

It was a poor attempt at a joke.

He is in poor condition.

She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

More evidence that something has gone amiss in economic perceptions: whereas most of the respondents in the Journal poll said the national economy was in poor or not-so-good shape, a majority of them said that conditions in their home state were excellent or good. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2024

More than $50,000 of public assistance that should have helped feed New York’s poor was stolen and used by a West Palm Beach woman with a history of fraud. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024

However, the study also revealed that resorts with poor management practices and more sedimentation and runoff can harm the reefs. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024

Minnesota didn’t play poor defensively, but was seemingly flummoxed on the offensive end all night. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2024

Across the board, Europeans have grown nervous about integrating as many as eight new countries, especially one as large, poor, and war-torn as Ukraine. —Célia Belin, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024

Our findings on loneliness in conjunction with previous studies on life expectancy, health, well-being and cognition suggest that being middle-aged in America is a risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes. —Frank J. Infurna, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024

The 13 richest team, including the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Yankees, gave $500 million combined to the 14 poorest teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Orioles. —Mike Ozanian, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Water utilities with a poor financial and environmental record aren’t allowed to pay dividends, but those payments are Kemble’s only source of finance. —Jessica Shankleman, Fortune Europe, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poure, from Anglo-French povre, pore, from Latin pauper; akin to Latin paucus little and to Latin parere to give birth to, produce — more at few, pare

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poor

• in poor/bad (etc.) condition
• poor/bad sport
• make a poor fist of
• piss-poor
• a poor second/third/fourth
• poor law
• poor white
• bad/poor loser
• land-poor
• poor devil
• dirt-poor
• poor boy
• the poor
• whip-poor-will
• undeserving poor
• poor/sad/sorry excuse for
• poor mouth
• bad/poor form
• poor-spirited
• poor box
• poor man's
• poor farm
• in (very) bad/poor taste

Kids Definition

poor

1 of 2 adjective

ˈpu̇(ə)r,

ˈpō(ə)r

1

: lacking riches or possessions

2

: less than enough

a poor crop

3

: not good in quality or character of work

4

: lacking fertility

poor land

5

: not satisfactory

the patient had a poor day

6

: lacking in signs of wealth or good taste

poor furnishings

7

: worthy of pity or sympathy

the poor kitten hurt its paw

poorly adverb

poorness noun

poor

2 of 2 noun plural

: poor people

charity for the poor