disadvantaged

adjective

dis·​ad·​van·​taged ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tijd How to pronounce disadvantaged (audio)
: lacking in the basic resources or conditions (such as standard housing, medical and educational facilities, and civil rights) believed to be necessary for an equal position in society
disadvantagedness noun

Examples of disadvantaged in a Sentence

The program provides aid for economically disadvantaged groups. disadvantaged families struggling to get by will be benefited by changes in the tax code
Recent Examples on the Web Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is headed to Kentucky next week to tout Biden’s efforts to bolster the economy in disadvantaged communities, while Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is hitting up Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to discuss education opportunities through Biden’s agenda. Will Weissert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2024 It is focused on disadvantaged communities and operates on a vastly smaller scale. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Well, thanks to the strength of the labor market, more and more Americans from historically disadvantaged groups have been able to find some of that dignity and respect—and a regular paycheck. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024 That can be a barrier, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Reed is also the CEO of the Lakeside Riders Youth Outreach and Community Services Inc., a nonprofit based in Mansfield that teaches disadvantaged children the fundamentals of horseback riding, hunting, fishing and camping. Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2024 The facts are in: High-quality early childhood development programs can change the trajectory of disadvantaged children’s lives, mitigating the impacts of child poverty on a range of economic, social, and physical outcomes. Shelley Stewart, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 This is why Camarata’s cry for help should not go unanswered by city officials tasked with humanely taking care of disadvantaged people in need of shelter, food and health services. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Known for her roles in the 2017 buddy movie Girls Trip and last year’s supernatural Disney comedy Haunted Mansion, Haddish had just performed at the Laugh Factory’s 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast and party for disadvantaged members of the community. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disadvantaged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disadvantaged was in 1893

Dictionary Entries Near disadvantaged

Cite this Entry

“Disadvantaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disadvantaged. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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