poverty

noun

pov·​er·​ty ˈpä-vər-tē How to pronounce poverty (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions
b
: renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an individual to own property
2
3
a
: debility due to malnutrition
b
: lack of fertility
Choose the Right Synonym for poverty

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

Examples of poverty in a Sentence

He was born in poverty. There is a poverty of information about the disease.
Recent Examples on the Web This has led to a devastating effect on social programs serving the entire population, but especially those living in poverty, women and children. Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023 Jeezy – as the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist is now known – grew up in Georgia in a neighborhood where poverty grips you by the throat and can sometimes strangle the humanity out of you. Sara Sidner, CNN, 9 Sep. 2023 The new challenges are very complicated, and people are afraid of them: climate changes, gender changes, technological changes, demographic changes, poverty. Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023 The focus is on health, education, protection, poverty, advocacy, and emergency response. Sari Hitchins, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023 Maybe profits and share buybacks played a teensy little role in its cable TV prices. Disney, which has been pleading poverty lately, also has done pretty well. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 Taking place in New York City’s Central Park on Sept. 23, the Global Citizen Festival is a free, ticketed event that will be broadcast live and is driving urgent action to end extreme poverty by calling on world leaders to address the issue along with climate crisis and equity for women and girls. Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023 Already, many of Mongolia’s herders, who comprised about a third of the population of 3.3 million, have abandoned their traditional livelihoods to settle around Mongolia’s capital, stressing social services in a country where already nearly 1 in 3 people live in poverty. The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023 Proceeds of the Petal Pop Stroller Wagons will give back to Baby2Baby, a national non-profit organization that provides basic essentials to children living in poverty. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poverty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poverte, from Anglo-French poverté, from Latin paupertat-, paupertas, from pauper poor — more at poor

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of poverty was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near poverty

Cite this Entry

“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

poverty

noun
pov·​er·​ty ˈpäv-ərt-ē How to pronounce poverty (audio)
1
: the state of being poor : lack of money or possessions : want
2
: a small supply : dearth
a poverty of information about the new disease
3
: lack of fertility
poverty of the soil

Medical Definition

poverty

noun
pov·​er·​ty ˈpäv-ərt-ē How to pronounce poverty (audio)
plural poverties
: debility due to malnutrition
evidence of poverty in calves

More from Merriam-Webster on poverty

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