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
About 20% of the city’s population lives below the poverty line, compared with 12% overall in the state, according to Census Bureau data.
—
Jason Kane, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
After extending Medicaid to adults under 138% of the poverty line, Kentucky’s uninsured rate fell from 14.3% to 5.4% by 2023.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
But the small city still has one of the highest poverty rates in Michigan, with 38% of its residents living below the poverty line, according to 2023 census data.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The additional $50 million from the legislature will allow the state to partially replace the expiring subsidies for customers earning less than four times the poverty line, with an emphasis on people with lower incomes, Conway said.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
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Jason Kane, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
After extending Medicaid to adults under 138% of the poverty line, Kentucky’s uninsured rate fell from 14.3% to 5.4% by 2023.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
But the small city still has one of the highest poverty rates in Michigan, with 38% of its residents living below the poverty line, according to 2023 census data.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The additional $50 million from the legislature will allow the state to partially replace the expiring subsidies for customers earning less than four times the poverty line, with an emphasis on people with lower incomes, Conway said.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 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 30 Sep. 2025.
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