Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

indigence

play
noun in·di·gence \ˈin-di-jən(t)s\

Definition of indigence

  1. :  a level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking

See indigence defined for kids

Read the Latest from M-W

decimate-video
Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?
image599301899
Pretty in 'Pink'
alt-5951697e1a410
When To Use 'Specious' vs. 'Spurious'
istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us
June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Examples of indigence in a Sentence

  1. there are various state and federal programs to help relieve indigence

First Known Use of indigence

14th century

indigence Synonyms

Synonyms
beggary, destituteness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness, impoverishment, poverty, necessity, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, penury, poorness, want
Antonyms
affluence, opulence, richness, wealth, wealthiness
Related Words
gutter, misery, woe, wretchedness; exigency; emergency, rainy day; austerity, deprivation, privation; bankruptcy, insolvency; belt-tightening, pinching, straitening
Near Antonyms
luxury, prosperity

Synonym Discussion of indigence

poverty, indigence, penury, want, destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources. poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts. the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances. the indigence of her years as a graduate student penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money. a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure. lived in a perpetual state of want the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Law Dictionary

indigence

play
noun in·di·gence \ˈin-də-jəns\

Legal Definition of indigence

  1. :  impoverished hardship and deprivation

Learn More about indigence

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for indigence Spanish Central: Translation of indigence Nglish: Translation of indigence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of indigence for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up indigence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

scapegrace

play

an incorrigible rascal

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. bona fide Made in good faith

  2. surrogate mother From TMZ to the dictionary.

  3. zealot A fanatical partisan

  4. stonewall to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive

  5. scurrilous Containing obscenities, abuse, or slander

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

indigence

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

  • istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us
  • Which is a synonym of garner?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5951697e1a410
When To Use 'Specious' vs. 'Spurious'

These similar words are not interchangeable

alt-594bf2ec5f26e
Quick: Read This!

'Quick' once had a very different meaning

alt-594d2b6325245
'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice to Strength

Do you take pride in Pride?

image599301899
Pink: The Color that Will Change Your Life

From Fuchsia to Baker-Miller Pink

Ask the Editors

decimate-video
Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

serial-comma
The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us
June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

Take the quiz
alt-5941ad7527c3c
Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

Is that your picture under "Largest Vocabulary"?

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
Citation
Citation

Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?

Play the game
Examples: indigence in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide