Word
pauper
Phoneticspau·per
US/ˈpɔpɝ/
UK/pˈɔːpɐ/
Definition
n. a person who is extremely poor and has no money at all. This word is quite old-fashioned and sounds more serious than just saying 'poor person'.
n. a person who is extremely poor and lacks any significant means of support. Often carries a legal or historical connotation, particularly in the context of inheritance or social welfare.
Examples
“The old man lived as a pauper in the city streets.”
“In the 19th century, many families were reduced to the status of paupers after losing their land to the industrialists.”
“The novel explores the stark contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the aristocracy and the desperate existence of the pauper, highlighting the rigid social hierarchies of the era.”
Examples
simple
“The old man lived as a pauper in the city streets.”
contextual
“In the 19th century, many families were reduced to the status of paupers after losing their land to the industrialists.”
complex
“The novel explores the stark contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the aristocracy and the desperate existence of the pauper, highlighting the rigid social hierarchies of the era.”
Real-World Examples
“He says some people are surprised to know that one day a week he eats like a gluttonous prince, while the rest of the week he eats like a pauper.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin pauper (“poor”). Originally a legal term. Doublet of poor.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/pauper