poverty line

noun

: a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards

called also poverty level

Examples of poverty line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, the House program would prioritize children with special education needs in families at or below 500% of the federal poverty line — about $160,000 for a family of four. Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Almost 70% of folks caught in that net fall below 250% of the federal poverty line. Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Designed to help families that earn between 150% and 300% of the federal poverty line — $38,730 to $77,460 for a family of three — Families Forward currently subsidizes childcare for 1,435 children, working with Miami’s Early Learning Coalition to pay students’ tuition directly to daycare centers. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025 An analysis of 2019 Census data by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute revealed that 26 percent of households with unauthorized immigrants had incomes below the federal poverty line. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for poverty line

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poverty line was in 1901

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Cite this Entry

“Poverty line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty%20line. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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