poverty

noun, often attributive
pov·​er·​ty | \ ˈpä-vər-tē How to pronounce poverty (audio) \

Definition of poverty

1a : the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions
b : renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an individual to own property
3a : debility due to malnutrition
b : lack of fertility

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Choose the Right Synonym for poverty

poverty, indigence, penury, want, destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources. poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts. the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances. the indigence of her years as a graduate student penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money. a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure. lived in a perpetual state of want the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Examples of poverty in a Sentence

He was born in poverty. There is a poverty of information about the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

His family has moved to Pune from their native village and seem on the edge of poverty. Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Trijya - Radius': Film Review | Shanghai 2019," 1 July 2019 The one-hour drama centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects, haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his mother, who must work to find a way out of poverty. Martha Merrow, BostonGlobe.com, "Spike Lee, Michael B. Jordan among stars at Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival," 6 Aug. 2019 Anderson said applications to the school in recent years have increased from families in Wards 7 and 8, the corner of the city with the highest concentration of poverty. Perry Stein, Washington Post, "A top D.C. charter school educates few at-risk students. Should it be opening a second campus?," 4 Aug. 2019 Soles4Souls creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world, disrupting the cycle of poverty. courant.com, "Community News For The Wethersfield Edition," 24 July 2019 Overall this is a success story, since rising incomes have lifted millions of people out of poverty. Robert B. Richardson, The Conversation, "Resource depletion is a serious problem, but ‘footprint’ estimates don’t tell us much about it," 24 July 2019 Ortiz has always seemed acutely aware of the thin line between a life of baseball riches and one of poverty. Danny Gold, SI.com, "The Broken Case of David Ortiz," 23 July 2019 Ostentation funk emerged at a time when Brazil’s left-leaning Workers’ Party was in power and implementing subsidized social programs that lifted millions out of poverty. Shasta Darlington, Billboard, "How KondZilla Took Funk Out of the Favelas and Into the Mainstream," 18 July 2019 Source: Staff reports The Philippines badly needs investment to build infrastructure and lift swaths of its population out of poverty. Jake Maxwell Watts, WSJ, "Hit-and-Run Collision in Disputed Waters Tests Philippines’ China Ties," 12 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'poverty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of poverty

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for poverty

Middle English poverte, from Anglo-French poverté, from Latin paupertat-, paupertas, from pauper poor — more at poor

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More Definitions for poverty

poverty

noun

English Language Learners Definition of poverty

: the state of being poor
formal : a lack of something

poverty

noun
pov·​er·​ty | \ ˈpä-vər-tē How to pronounce poverty (audio) \

Kids Definition of poverty

: the condition of being poor : lack of money or possessions

poverty

noun
pov·​er·​ty | \ ˈpäv-ərt-ē How to pronounce poverty (audio) \
plural poverties

Medical Definition of poverty

: debility due to malnutrition evidence of poverty in calves

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