What does penniless mean?
Penniless is an adjective meaning that someone has no money or financial resources. It commonly describes a person or family who has been left with nothing after an event such as a financial failure, eviction, accident, or disaster, as in 'The flood left thousands of families penniless.' The word is more forceful than 'broke' and can convey a serious condition of sudden or prolonged deprivation. It may also be used figuratively for a person, group, or institution deprived of an essential resource, such as support, influence, or funding. In British and American English, 'penniless' is understood as standard but has a somewhat literary and emotionally charged quality compared with informal alternatives such as 'broke.'
adjectiveHaving no money or financial resources. In figurative use, it can mean utterly lacking in a valued resource or support.
- Having no money or financial resources.
- Figuratively, lacking some essential resource, support, or advantage.
"The family was left penniless after the business failed."
"Thousands of families were left penniless by the disaster."
"The reform left the smallest publishers practically penniless."
A single word can describe both an empty wallet and the emotional weight of losing every financial safeguard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does penniless come from?
The word was formed in the 16th century from 'penny' and the suffix '-less', literally meaning 'without a penny' or 'without money.' The older word 'penny' comes from Old English 'pening', a coin whose name is related to 'pence' and 'pennyworth.' The '-less' construction became a productive English pattern for forming adjectives that describe the absence of a quality, as in 'homeless' and 'childless.'
Related word forms
How penniless is actually used
Usually used before a noun or in the phrase 'left penniless'. It is a strong and somewhat literary term; in everyday speech, 'broke' is more common.
Easily confused with penniless
Penny-pinching describes miserly behaviour, whereas penniless means having no money.