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Definition of poverty

poverty

/ˈpɑːvərti/
pov · er · ty
Adjective:poor
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poverty Lexical Profile

poverty Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state of being extremely poor and lacking sufficient money or material possessions to meet basic living needs.

Example

"Expanded access to education and healthcare helped lift thousands of families out of poverty."

2

A deficiency, scarcity, or inferiority in the amount or quality of something.

Example

"The critic lamented the poverty of imagination displayed in the latest sequel."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for poverty

• Nearby Words

pout
poutine
pouty
poverty
pow
powan
powder

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'poverte', which derives from Latin 'paupertas' ('poverty'), from 'pauper' ('poor').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Poverty. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/poverty
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