indigent
indigent Lexical Profile
indigent Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Poor; needy; lacking the basic necessities of life.
"The legal clinic provides free representation to indigent defendants who cannot afford an attorney."
• noun
A needy or impoverished person who lacks the means to support themselves.
"The municipal shelter offers warm meals and medical care to local indigents during the winter."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'indigent' (meaning impoverished or needy) with 'indigenous' (meaning native to a place) or 'indignant' (meaning feeling or showing anger at perceived unfair treatment).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'indigent', from Latin 'indigentem' (needy, poor), the present participle of 'indigere' (to need or want), formed from 'indu-' (an archaic form of 'in-', meaning 'within') and 'egere' (to be in need).