disadvantaged
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌdɪsədˈvænɪdʒd// UK //dˌɪsɐdvˈɑːntɪdʒd// dis·ad·van·taged
v. having fewer opportunities than other people, often because of poverty or social barriers.
v. lacking the social, economic, or educational advantages that others possess; often used in formal or policy contexts to describe groups facing systemic inequality.
Many disadvantaged children need extra help at school.
The new policy aims to support disadvantaged families by providing free meals and tutoring.
Despite the city's overall wealth, significant pockets of disadvantage remain, highlighting the persistent gap between the affluent and those left behind by economic shifts.
Usage
Often used as a post-positive modifier in formal contexts (e.g. 'the disadvantaged') or attributively before nouns like 'students' or 'communities'.