destitute

adjective

des·​ti·​tute ˈde-stə-ˌtüt 

-ˌt(y)üt

1

: lacking something needed or desirable

a lake destitute of fish

2

: lacking possessions and resources

especially : suffering extreme poverty

a destitute old man

destituteness noun

Did you know?

You may be surprised to learn that "destitute" is related to words like "statue," "statute," and even "statistics." The Latin word status, meaning "position" or "state," is the source of these and other English words. Some terms of this family are directly related to "status," while others come to English through "statuere," a Latin derivative of "status" that means "to set up." "Destitute" came from "destituere" ("to abandon" or "to deprive"), a joining of "statuere" and the prefix de- ("from, down, away"). "Statuere" also gave us "constitute," "institute," and "restitution," among other similar-sounding words.

Synonyms of destitute

• impoverished
• poor
• broke

Examples of destitute in a Sentence

His business failures left him destitute.

many families were left destitute by the horrible fire

Recent Examples on the Web

One million of these children are destitute, going without their most basic needs of staying warm, dry, clothed and fed being met, according to a 2023 study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which studies poverty and formulates policy to tackle it. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025

Franklin Roosevelt initiated the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Work Progress Administration as part of the New Deal, putting destitute Americans to work by building roads, dams, bridges, libraries, schools — and parks. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025

Many samurai remain, but sword-carrying is outlawed, leaving many of them jobless and destitute. —Kayti Burt, Time, 13 Nov. 2025

To make matters worse, the equally destitute viewing public is rewarded for ratting out the runners (or killing the contestants themselves), which pits neighbor against neighbor in a way that keeps the underclass at war with itself. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere to abandon, deprive, from de- + statuere to set up — more at statute

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destitute

• the destitute

Rhymes for destitute

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute
• kiwifruit

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Kids Definition

destitute

adjective

des·​ti·​tute ˈdes-tə-ˌt(y)üt 

1

: lacking something needed or desirable

destitute of the necessities of life

2

: extremely poor : suffering great want

destitution

ˌdes-tə-ˈt(y)ü-shən

noun