Poor: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring generally to people with low economic status or conditions that lack quality.

• Many families in this region are poor and lack basic necessities
• The poor infrastructure of the building caused safety concerns

Use when emphasizing the lack of essential resources or opportunities, often implying a sense of social injustice.

• Children from deprived backgrounds often struggle to succeed in school
• The community is deprived of access to clean water

Use when referring to individuals or groups who require assistance due to lack of resources, often in a charitable context.

• The charity helps provide food and clothing to needy families
• Needy children were given free lunches at school

Use when highlighting a severe state of poverty, often with a focus on long-term or systemic issues.

• The impoverished village struggled to rebuild after the flood
• Many people in impoverished areas suffer from malnutrition

Often used to describe a lack of quality, wealth, or standard, without necessarily being harsh or overly negative.

• The restaurant had poor service, so we decided not to go back.
• Growing up, we lived in a poor neighborhood.

Used in a comparative sense to indicate something of lower quality, rank, or status. This term can have a slightly negative connotation.

• The new model was clearly inferior to the one from last year.
• She felt inferior when compared to her more experienced colleagues.

Specifically points out that something does not meet the accepted standards or expectations, usually in a formal or technical context. It is typically negative.

• The company's substandard safety practices led to several accidents.
• The work was substandard and did not meet the client's requirements.

Implies poor workmanship or quality, often with an implication of deceit or cutting corners. It carries a negative connotation.

• The contractor did a shoddy job on the repairs, and we had to hire someone else.
• You can see the shoddy stitching on this jacket; it won't last long.

Used generally to describe someone who has little money or resources. Can also be used in a non-financial sense to describe quality.

• Many poor families struggle to afford basic necessities.
• The poor performance of the team led to their defeat.

Used to describe individuals or groups who have less favorable circumstances, often beyond just financial issues, including education, social status, and healthcare.

• Programs should be created to support disadvantaged youth.
• Disadvantaged communities often lack access to quality education.

Typically refers to people who lack advantages and opportunities that others have, often in a societal or systemic context. Can relate to lacking education, safe housing, or employment opportunities.

• Underprivileged children may benefit the most from free educational programs.
• She volunteers at a shelter that helps underprivileged individuals.

This word emphasizes severe poverty and a lack of basic resources needed for living. Often has a sense of chronic or severe deprivation.

• The impoverished region lacks essential healthcare services.
• Impoverished families struggle to find enough food daily.