in forma pauperis
adjective or adverb
in for·ma pau·pe·ris
ˌin-ˈfȯr-mə-ˈpȯ-pə-rəs 
-ˈpau̇-
: as a poor person
Examples of in forma pauperis in a Sentence
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Dismissed at an early stage, the Supreme Court issued a decision declining to allow the case to proceed in forma pauperis, the legal process that enables those without the means to pay for court costs to pursue a case, and declined to review the case through certiorari.
—
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025
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Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“In forma pauperis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20forma%20pauperis. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
in forma pauperis
adjective or adverb
in for·ma pau·pe·ris
ˌin-ˈfȯr-mə-ˈpȯ-pə-rəs, -ˈfȯr-mä-ˈpau̇-pe-rēs
: as a poor person : relieved of the fees and costs of a legal action because of inability to pay
allowed to file an appeal in forma pauperis
in forma pauperis status
Etymology
Medieval Latin, in the form of a pauper
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