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
Colorado could opt to undo its Medicaid expansion, which opened coverage to adults without children who earn up to 138% of the poverty line starting in 2014, said Chris Stiffler, a senior economist at the liberal-leaning Colorado Fiscal Institute.
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Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The politician, who was born in France to parents of Malian descent, is seen as a breath of fresh air by his supporters in Saint Denis and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, where close to 30% of the population live below the poverty line.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Before Meta came to town, the biggest claim to fame of Richland Parish, a community where a quarter of residents live under the poverty line, was arguably that country music artist Tim McGraw was born and raised there.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
These benefits lift people across the country above the poverty line — a testament to her enduring legacy.
—Amanda Hatch, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
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Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The politician, who was born in France to parents of Malian descent, is seen as a breath of fresh air by his supporters in Saint Denis and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, where close to 30% of the population live below the poverty line.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Before Meta came to town, the biggest claim to fame of Richland Parish, a community where a quarter of residents live under the poverty line, was arguably that country music artist Tim McGraw was born and raised there.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
These benefits lift people across the country above the poverty line — a testament to her enduring legacy.
—Amanda Hatch, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 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 6 Apr. 2026.
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