Impecunious: meaning, definitions and examples

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impecunious

 

[หŒษชm.pษชหˆkjuห.ni.ษ™s ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

financial status

Having little or no money; penniless.

Synonyms

bankrupt, destitute, indigent, penniless, poor.

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Word Description / Examples
impecunious

Used to describe someone who has little or no money, often in a temporary situation. Common in formal or literary contexts.

  • After losing his job, he found himself impecunious and struggling to pay the rent.
  • The impecunious artist sold paintings on the street to make ends meet.
poor

General term used to describe someone who has little money. It can be used in a wide range of contexts, from everyday conversation to formal writing.

  • They come from a poor family but are very hardworking.
  • The government has programs to support poor communities.
destitute

Used to describe someone who is extremely poor and lacks the basic necessities of life. It has a more severe connotation than 'impecunious'.

  • After the natural disaster, many families were left destitute.
  • The foundation works to help destitute individuals get back on their feet.
indigent

Often used in formal contexts to describe someone who is very poor and in need of assistance.

  • The hospital provides free care for indigent patients.
  • Several indigent families were provided with food and shelter.
penniless

Informal term used to describe someone who has no money at all. It often implies a temporary situation.

  • After investing all his savings, he found himself penniless.
  • She arrived in the city penniless but full of hope.
bankrupt

Refers to a legal status where a person or institution cannot repay debts. It is commonly used in legal, financial, and business contexts.

  • The company went bankrupt after several bad investments.
  • He declared himself bankrupt because he could no longer meet his financial obligations.

Examples of usage

  • He was so impecunious that he couldn't even afford to buy food.
  • The impecunious artist struggled to make ends meet.
  • She grew up in an impecunious family, but worked hard to change her financial situation.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term originates from the Latin word 'impecuniosus', where 'im-' means 'not' and 'pecunia' means 'money'.
  • The word has been used in English since the 17th century, reflecting societal views on wealth and poverty.
  • Originally described a lack of cattle, which were a sign of wealth in ancient societies.

Literature

  • The term is often found in classic literature to depict characters in economic struggles, such as in works by Charles Dickens.
  • Famous literary figures who are depicted as impecunious often highlight themes of perseverance in the face of adversity.
  • Impecunious characters may also represent moral integrity, as seen in many stories where wealth corrupts.

Cultural Perspectives

  • In modern times, society often romanticizes the lives of impecunious artists and writers, viewing their struggles as a form of authenticity.
  • Cultural narratives around wealth and poverty vary, with some cultures glamorizing wealth while others valorize simplicity and humility in impecuniousness.
  • In folklore, impecuniousness is often portrayed as a catalyst for personal growth and discovering true values in life.

Economics

  • Economic theories often discuss the plight of the impecunious as a significant factor in understanding poverty and social mobility.
  • Studies have shown that being impecunious can affect one's access to education, healthcare, and social services.
  • In many societies, the plight of impecunious individuals highlights significant disparities in wealth and income distribution.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers have debated the moral implications of being impecunious, often questioning whether wealth equates to happiness.
  • Some philosophical movements, such as Stoicism, teach that virtue and character are more important than wealth, aligning with the experiences of the impecunious.
  • The concept of 'noblesse oblige' connects to this word, suggesting that those with wealth have a responsibility to assist those who are impecunious.

Translations

Translations of the word "impecunious" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น impecunioso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคจเคฟเคฐเฅเคงเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช mittellos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ miskin

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะตะทะณั€ะพัˆะพะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ bez grosza

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้‡‘ๆฌ 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท impรฉcunieux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sin dinero

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท parasฤฑz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฌด์ผํ‘ผ์˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุนุฏู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bez penฤ›z

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ bez peลˆazรญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ดซ็ฉท็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ brez denarja

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ peningalaus

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐา›ัˆะฐัั‹ะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒคแƒฃแƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pulsuz

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sin dinero

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,501 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.