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poverty

9 antonyms and opposites of poverty, grouped by meaning.

Noun — The state of being poor; lacking enough money to meet basic needs.

Antonyms

abundance decadence lap of luxury luxury riches richness wanting for nothing wealth wealthiness

How to use poverty

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

live in poverty poverty line child poverty

Etymology

From Old French poverté, from Latin paupertas, from pauper, "poor" — the same root as "pauper" and "poor".

Full origin of poverty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “poverty” mean?

The word “poverty” means the state of being poor; lacking enough money to meet basic needs. In plain terms, not having enough money or resources to live comfortably — or, more broadly, a serious lack of something.

How do you pronounce “poverty”?

“Poverty” is pronounced PO-vuh-tee (/ˈpɑːvɚti/ in IPA).

How do you use “poverty” in a sentence?

Here is “poverty” used in a sentence: “The charity works to reduce child poverty in the region.”

What is another word for “poverty”?

Words with a similar meaning to “poverty” include beggary, brokeness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness and indigence.

What is the opposite of “poverty”?

The opposite of “poverty” — its antonyms — are abundance, decadence, lap of luxury, luxury and riches.

What part of speech is “poverty”?

“Poverty” is a noun.

Where does the word “poverty” come from?

The word “poverty” comes from Latin. From Old French poverté, from Latin paupertas, from pauper, "poor" — the same root as "pauper" and "poor".

Is “poverty” a common word?

“Poverty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

What are the types of poverty?

Poverty is often divided into absolute and relative. Absolute poverty means lacking the basic necessities for survival, such as food, clean water, and shelter. Relative poverty means having far less than the typical standard in one's own society, so a person may fall behind even in a wealthy country.

What is the opposite of poverty?

The opposite of poverty is wealth, affluence, or prosperity, having more than enough money to meet one's needs comfortably. Related terms include riches and abundance. Where poverty is defined by scarcity and going without, its antonyms describe security, plenty, and the freedom that financial comfort brings.

What causes poverty?

Poverty has many overlapping causes. They include unemployment and low wages, poor access to education and healthcare, conflict, and natural disasters. Wider factors such as economic downturns, inequality, and discrimination can trap people or whole communities in hardship. Rarely does a single cause act alone; several usually combine.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.