the poverty line
noun
: the level of income that makes it possible for a person to pay for basic food, clothing, and shelter
families living below/at the poverty line
Examples of the poverty line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The average household income in Kilmarnock is a little over $31,000 with about 30% of the population living below the poverty line, according to Census data from 2023.
—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Most have incomes below the poverty line, which is about $32,000 for a family of four.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Most have incomes below the poverty line, about $32,000 for a family of four, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2025
Nearly 740,000 Ohio households received SNAP benefits in 2022, according to the USDA, and 79% of Ohio households receiving SNAP benefits had income at or below the poverty line, according to the USDA.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
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Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Most have incomes below the poverty line, which is about $32,000 for a family of four.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Most have incomes below the poverty line, about $32,000 for a family of four, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2025
Nearly 740,000 Ohio households received SNAP benefits in 2022, according to the USDA, and 79% of Ohio households receiving SNAP benefits had income at or below the poverty line, according to the USDA.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the poverty line
Cite this Entry
“The poverty line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20poverty%20line. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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