Word
beggar
Phoneticsbeg·gar, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɛɡɝ/
UK/bˈɛɡɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who lives by asking people for money or food in the street. You usually see them in public places like train stations or city centers.
n. a person who lives by asking for money or food as charity, typically in public spaces. Often used metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely poor or lacks resources.
Examples
“The beggar sat on the corner with a small cup.”
“In many large cities, you will find beggars near the entrances of busy subway stations during the morning rush.”
“The novelist depicts a city of sharp contrasts, where wealthy merchants walk past desperate beggars without a second glance, highlighting the social inequality of the era.”
Examples
simple
“The beggar sat on the corner with a small cup.”
contextual
“In many large cities, you will find beggars near the entrances of busy subway stations during the morning rush.”
complex
“The novelist depicts a city of sharp contrasts, where wealthy merchants walk past desperate beggars without a second glance, highlighting the social inequality of the era.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'beggars can't be choosers' to mean that people in need must accept what is offered.
Real-World Examples
“It beggars belief that Labour wants to reduce standards.” “One was the hinin (nonhumans), most of whom were beggars or did the work that no one else wanted to do.” Etymology
From Middle English beggere, beggare, beggar (“beggar”), from Middle English beggen (“to beg”), equivalent to beg + -ar. Alternative etymology derives Middle English beggere, beggare, beggar from Old French begart, originally a member of the Beghards, a lay brotherhood of mendicants in the Low Countries, from Middle Dutch beggaert (“mendicant”), with pejorative suffix (see -ard); the order is said to be named after the priest Lambert le Bègue of Liège (French for “Lambert the Stammerer”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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