Word
poverty
Phoneticspover·ty
US/ˈpɑvɝti/
UK/pˈɒvəti/
Definitions
01lack of money
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being poor and not having enough money for basic things like food, clothes, or a home.
n. the state of being extremely poor, typically involving a lack of financial resources to meet basic needs. Uncountable in this general sense.
“Many families in the region are living in poverty and need help from the government.”
“The charity's primary mission is to alleviate systemic poverty by providing vocational training and micro-loans to local entrepreneurs.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02lack of quality or variety
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Formal
n. a lack of something important, such as ideas, quality, or variety.
n. a deficiency or dearth of a particular quality or ingredient. Often used in academic or critical contexts.
“The critic complained about the poverty of imagination in the new movie.”
“The soil's poverty of nutrients made it nearly impossible for the farmers to yield a successful crop without expensive fertilizers.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “poverty” in context.
Verb
01. escape from poverty
“Education is often seen as the best way for children to escape from poverty.”
verb + prep + noun
02. live in poverty
“Millions of people around the world still live in poverty without access to clean water.”
verb + prep + noun
03. reduce poverty
“The government is introducing new programs to reduce poverty in rural areas.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. extreme poverty
“The charity works with families who are struggling in extreme poverty.”
adj + noun
05. widespread poverty
“The war resulted in widespread poverty and a lack of basic medical supplies.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. cycle of poverty
“It is difficult to break the cycle of poverty without stable employment and housing.”
noun + of + noun
07. poverty line
“Many families are now living below the official poverty line due to rising costs.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. in poverty
“He grew up in poverty but eventually became a successful businessman.”
prep + noun
09. poverty rates
Etymology
From Middle English poverte, from Old French poverté (Modern French pauvreté), from Latin paupertās, from pauper (“poor”) + -tas (“noun of state suffix”). Cognates include pauper, poor.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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