poor

adjective

ˈpu̇r  ˈpȯr 

1

a

: lacking sufficient money or material possessions

too poor to buy new clothes

b

: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty

a poor nation

2

a

: less than adequate : meager

a poor effort

poor attendance

b

: small in worth

3

: exciting pity

you poor thing

4

a

: inferior in quality or value

had poor language skills

b

: humble, unpretentious

c

: mean, petty

poor sports

5

: lean, emaciated

6

: barren, unproductive

—used of land

7

: indifferent, unfavorable

had a poor opinion of them

a poor profession

8

: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified

—often used in combination

oil-poor countries

poorish

ˈpu̇r-ish 

ˈpȯr-

adjective

poorness noun

Synonyms of poor

• impoverished
• broke

Examples of poor in a Sentence

We were too poor to buy new clothes.

The organization helps poor families.

She has a poor vocabulary.

It was a poor attempt at a joke.

He is in poor condition.

She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

His performances were so poor that the team had to turn to Roki Sasaki as its closer in the postseason en route to winning another World Series. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Dahomean soldiers were unfamiliar with canoes and were known to be poor swimmers, so water was seen as a particularly valuable protection. —Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025

In the second half, poor route running stood out, which could justifiably be labeled as bad effort. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025

Far more, 40%, now say conditions are poor, up from 37% in October. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poure, from Anglo-French povre, pore, from Latin pauper; akin to Latin paucus little and to Latin parere to give birth to, produce — more at few, pare

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poor

• a poor second/third/fourth
• bad/poor form
• bad/poor loser
• dirt-poor
• in poor/bad (etc.) condition
• in (very) bad/poor taste
• land-poor
• make a poor fist of
• poor/bad sport
• poor box
• poor boy
• poor devil
• poor farm
• poor law
• poor man's
• poor mouth
• poor/sad/sorry excuse for
• poor-spirited
• poor white
• the poor
• undeserving poor
• whip-poor-will

Rhymes for poor

• doer
• poore
• amour
• auteur
• grandeur
• hauteur
• velour
• verdure
• voyeur
• raconteur

Kids Definition

poor

1 of 2 adjective

ˈpu̇(ə)r, 

ˈpō(ə)r

1

: lacking riches or possessions

2

: less than enough

a poor crop

3

: not good in quality or character of work

4

: lacking fertility

poor land

5

: not satisfactory

the patient had a poor day

6

: lacking in signs of wealth or good taste

poor furnishings

7

: worthy of pity or sympathy

the poor kitten hurt its paw

poorly adverb

poorness noun

poor

2 of 2 plural noun

: poor people

charity for the poor