indigent
4 synonyms and 4 antonyms for indigent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use indigent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
indigent defendant
the indigent poor
A formal word, common in legal, medical, and administrative contexts rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
From Old French indigent, from Latin indigens, "needing," from indigere ("to need, lack").
Full origin of indigent →Frequently asked questions
What does “indigent” mean?
The word “indigent” means very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live. In plain terms, extremely poor, without the means to meet basic needs.
How do you pronounce “indigent”?
“Indigent” is pronounced IHN-dihd-zhuhnt (/ˈɪndɪd͡ʒənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “indigent” in a sentence?
Here is “indigent” used in a sentence: “The clinic offers free care to indigent patients.”
What part of speech is “indigent”?
Depending on how it is used, “indigent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “indigent” come from?
The word “indigent” comes from Latin. From Old French indigent, from Latin indigens, "needing," from indigere ("to need, lack").
How many meanings does “indigent” have?
“Indigent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live.
Related words
indigence
indigency
