poor

1 of 2

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

poorness

2 of 2

noun

poor·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being poor

Synonyms of poor

Adjective

• impoverished
• broke

Examples of poor in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

The government has also replaced dirt floors with cement in more than 75,000 households in the country’s poorest rural municipalities, and has distributed water filters and cleaner-burning stoves. — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who had to face an onslaught of questions about his defense’s poor performance last week, had an easier time on Sunday. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2026

The Tigers also benefitted from some poor punts from Troy’s Evan Crenshaw. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026

One bad season, one poor catch, or one spell of illness can be enough to push a family into dire poverty. — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English pourenesse, from poure poor + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

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

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