# destitute

/ˈdɛstəˌtut/ (US) · /dˈɛstɪtjˌuːt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/destitute
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'find oneself'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.