Entry Word: poverty

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <he dreamed of finding a good job and working his way out of poverty and debt>

Synonyms beggary, destitution, impecuniousness, impoverishment, indigence, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, penury, poorness, want

Related Words misery, woe, wretchedness; exigency, necessity; austerity, deprivation, privation; bankruptcy, insolvency; belt-tightening, pinching, straitening

Near Antonyms luxury, prosperity

Antonyms affluence, opulence, richness, wealthiness

2 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <a poverty of information about the new policies> — see deficiency