underprivileged
underprivileged Lexical Profile
underprivileged Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not enjoying the same standard of living, social rights, or economic opportunities as the majority of people in a society.
"The scholarship program provides financial assistance to talented students from underprivileged backgrounds."
• noun
People who lack the economic resources, social status, and opportunities enjoyed by most members of society (usually preceded by 'the' and treated as plural).
"The community center offers free legal clinics and job training to support the underprivileged."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a noun, 'underprivileged' is a nominalized adjective that almost always requires the definite article ('the underprivileged') and takes a plural verb.
• Rhymes for underprivileged
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century in American sociology and social work by combining the prefix 'under-' with 'privileged' (ultimately from Latin privilegium, meaning a law applying to an individual).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.