Word
destitute
Phoneticsdes·ti·tute, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛstəˌtut/
UK/dˈɛstɪtjˌuːt/
Definition
adj. having no money, food, or a home. You use this to describe someone who is extremely poor and lacks the basic things needed to live.
adj. lacking the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Often used to describe a state of extreme poverty that follows a sudden loss of resources.
Examples
“The charity helps families who are left destitute by the war.”
“After the factory closed and his savings ran out, he found himself destitute and sleeping in his car.”
“The sudden collapse of the local economy left thousands of former middle-class workers destitute, forcing the government to implement emergency housing and food programs to prevent a humanitarian crisis.”
Examples
simple
“The charity helps families who are left destitute by the war.”
contextual
“After the factory closed and his savings ran out, he found himself destitute and sleeping in his car.”
complex
“The sudden collapse of the local economy left thousands of former middle-class workers destitute, forcing the government to implement emergency housing and food programs to prevent a humanitarian crisis.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'find oneself'.
Real-World Examples
“You stayed married because that was what one did, and there were few alternatives that didn’t leave one spouse – usually the woman – socially ostracized and financially destitute.” “In reference to the hundreds of destitute minors, Aina Vidal of the leftwing group Sumar, said: “They’re children, not invaders, not soldiers.” Etymology
From Middle English destitute, destitut, from Latin dēstitūtus.
From Middle English destituten, from the adjective (see above).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/destitute