poverty

noun

pov·​er·​ty ˈpä-vər-tē 

often attributive

1

a

: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions

b

: renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an individual to own property

2

: scarcity, dearth

3

a

: debility due to malnutrition

b

: lack of fertility

Synonyms

• misery
• necessity
• destitution
• deprivation
• impoverishment
• penury
• pauperism
• indigence
• beggary
• need

Choose the Right Synonym for poverty

poverty, indigence, penury, want, destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources.

poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts.

the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers

indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances.

the indigence of her years as a graduate student

penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money.

a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury

want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure.

lived in a perpetual state of want

the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Examples of poverty in a Sentence

He was born in poverty.

There is a poverty of information about the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly 1 in 3 people in Bogalusa live in poverty — 2½ times the national average. —Fred Clasen-Kelly, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025

But families with very low or no taxable income—those living in poverty or living paycheck to paycheck—also urgently need other forms of support. —Sarah Rittling, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

The state will spend $190 million to maintain subsidies for people earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level (individuals earning about $23,000 or families of four earning about $48,000). —Calmatters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025

Trump’s second-in-command fought his way up from Rust Belt poverty to the height of American society. —Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poverte, from Anglo-French poverté, from Latin paupertat-, paupertas, from pauper poor — more at poor

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poverty

• anti-poverty
• poverty line
• poverty-stricken
• poverty trap
• the poverty line

Rhymes for poverty

• antipoverty

Kids Definition

poverty

noun

pov·​er·​ty ˈpäv-ərt-ē 

1

: the state of being poor : lack of money or possessions : want

2

: a small supply : dearth

a poverty of information about the new disease

3

: lack of fertility

poverty of the soil

Medical Definition

poverty

noun

pov·​er·​ty ˈpäv-ərt-ē 

plural poverties

: debility due to malnutrition

evidence of poverty in calves