disadvantaged

adjective

dis·​ad·​van·​taged ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tijd 

: 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

ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tijd-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of disadvantaged

• deprived
• impoverished
• depressed
• underprivileged

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

These are disadvantaged neighborhoods across the city. —Leondra Head, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

This means they are disadvantaged compared with the iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 families. —Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026

The city is taking its most significant step in decades to revive a public library that closed 45 years ago in a disadvantaged West Oakland neighborhood. —Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

Researchers and education advocates say high-quality pre-K can help close gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers. —Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing disadvantaged

• the disadvantaged

Rhymes for disadvantaged

• advantaged