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
Of the schools that applied, four have a high proportion of students living at or below the poverty line.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
People are struggling here in Maryland, where 10% of the population lives below the poverty line.
—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
See All Example Sentences for the poverty line
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Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
People are struggling here in Maryland, where 10% of the population lives below the poverty line.
—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
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 16 Jun. 2026.
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