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
People are struggling here in Maryland, where 10% of the population lives below the poverty line.
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Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
More than a third of Benin’s population lives below the poverty line and food insecurity remains high in the country.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 25 May 2026
That keeps her technically above the poverty line.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Generally, a household's gross monthly income must be at or below 130% of the poverty line to be eligible.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the poverty line
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Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
More than a third of Benin’s population lives below the poverty line and food insecurity remains high in the country.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 25 May 2026
That keeps her technically above the poverty line.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Generally, a household's gross monthly income must be at or below 130% of the poverty line to be eligible.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 May 2026
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 4 Jun. 2026.
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