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REFERENCE

poor

adj. · n.
US //ˈpuɹ// UK //pˈɔː// poor
  1. 1 having little money (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    having very little money or few possessions.

    lacking sufficient money or possessions to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

    Example

    The charity provides food and clothing for poor families in the city.

    Example

    The government introduced new subsidies to support poor households struggling with the rising costs of heating and electricity.
  2. 2 low quality (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not good; of a low standard.

    of a low standard or inferior quality; lacking in skill or ability.

    Example

    He failed the exam because of his poor study habits.

    Example

    The bridge was closed indefinitely after engineers discovered it had been constructed with poor materials that were now failing.
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  1. 3 deserving pity (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    used to show you feel sorry for someone.

    deserving of pity or sympathy; used to express compassion for someone's misfortune.

    Example

    That poor dog has been waiting in the rain for hours.

    Example

    The poor man lost everything in the fire, leaving him with nothing but the clothes he was wearing at the time.
  2. 4 lacking something specific (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not having enough of a particular thing, like nutrients or information.

    deficient in a specific substance, quality, or ingredient.

    Example

    The soil in this area is very poor in minerals, so plants don't grow well.

    Example

    The report was criticised for being poor in detail, failing to provide the specific data points required for a thorough analysis.
  3. 5 people with no money (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    people who have very little money, when talked about as a group.

    a collective noun referring to people who live in poverty. Always used with the definite article 'the'.

    Example

    The new law aims to provide better healthcare for the poor.

    Example

    The gap between the rich and the poor has widened significantly over the last decade, leading to increased social tension.
    • the needy
    • the impoverished
    • the rich
    • the wealthy
    Pitfall
    He wants to help the poors.
    He wants to help the poor.

    When 'poor' is used as a noun for a group of people, it is always 'the poor' and never takes an 's'.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English povre, povere, from Old French (and Anglo-Norman) povre, poure, from Latin pauper, from Old Latin pavo-pars (literally “getting little”), from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- (“few, small”). Doublet of pauper. Displaced native arm, wantsome, Middle English unlede (“poor”) (from Old English unlǣde), Middle English unweli, unwely (“poor, unwealthy”) (from Old English un- + weliġ (“well-to-do, prosperous, rich”)).

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