What does poverty mean?
Poverty means the condition of having too little money or material resources to meet basic needs and maintain a reasonable standard of living. It can refer to a person's financial circumstances, but it is also used for communities or populations experiencing widespread deprivation. The term is often associated with inadequate housing, food insecurity, limited access to education and healthcare, and reduced economic opportunity. In public discussion, poverty may be classified by severity, with terms such as extreme poverty, absolute poverty, and relative poverty distinguishing different conditions and measurement methods. The word is derived from Latin paupertas, which also produced related English forms including pauper and impecunious. Because poverty is both an economic condition and a social problem, it appears in discussions of welfare, development, inequality, and public policy. The related adjective poverty-stricken is commonly used to describe people or places experiencing severe deprivation.
nounThe state of having very little money or material resources. It may also refer to a severe lack of something essential, such as food, housing, or opportunity.
- The state of being poor or having very limited financial resources.
- A severe lack of something necessary or beneficial, such as food, housing, education, or opportunity.
"The organization works to reduce poverty by providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities."
"Many families in the region continue to live in poverty despite improvements in the economy."
"The study found a persistent poverty of educational opportunity in rural communities."
Usually used as an uncountable singular noun; the plural poverties is uncommon and typically refers to distinct instances or kinds of poverty.
" The study examined several poverties affecting rural households."
The word poverty comes from Latin paupertas, a family of terms that also gave us pauper and impecunious.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poverty come from?
Poverty entered English through Old French povreté, which developed from Latin paupertas, a noun meaning poverty or a poor condition. The Latin family also includes pauper, meaning a poor or destitute person, and forms such as pauperize and impecunious. In modern English, the word has broadened from a primarily financial meaning to include severe deprivation of essential resources and opportunities.
Related word forms
How poverty is actually used
Poverty is a neutral and widely used term, although phrases such as extreme poverty and absolute poverty are more specific. The word can describe an individual's circumstances, a community's condition, or a broader social problem.