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

At Kagel Elementary, a dual language school, nearly all students are Hispanic or Latino, and about 86% of students are considered economically disadvantaged, according to state data. —Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025

No one is sick or disadvantaged. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

More financially disadvantaged students ended up enrolling at Swarthmore than officials expected. —Collin Binkley, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025

The center, which offers free music instruction to disadvantaged children, was carved out of a modernist bank building in downtown Inglewood that had been repurposed as a Burger King. —Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing disadvantaged

• the disadvantaged

Rhymes for disadvantaged

• advantaged