Homeless: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for people who do not have a stable or permanent place to live.

• The city is providing shelters for the homeless
• Many homeless people struggle with access to basic services

Often used as a more respectful or politically correct term for people without stable housing.

• The city is focusing on services for the unhoused
• Unhoused individuals need access to healthcare

Literally means without a roof, often suggesting extreme and immediate lack of shelter.

• After the storm, many houses were left roofless
• The roofless families were provided temporary tents

Refers to people who have been deprived of their property, homes, or land, often implying they had ownership or entitlement before.

• The war has left many families dispossessed
• Dispossessed farmers sought refuge in the city

Commonly used in everyday language to refer to people who do not have a stable living situation. It is used in general conversations and media.

• The city has several shelters to support homeless individuals during the winter

A modern and sensitive term that avoids the stigma associated with homelessness. It is increasingly used in advocacy and social services.

• The new city council initiative aims to provide temporary housing solutions for unhoused persons

Less commonly used, this term can sound somewhat clinical or detached. It emphasizes the lack of a physical shelter.

• The charity organizes drives to collect blankets for roofless individuals during cold months

This term is often used in the context of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, natural disasters, or other crises. It is more formal and used in international humanitarian contexts.

• Many displaced persons sought refuge in neighboring countries after the conflict began