adj
indigent
IHN-dihd-zhuhnt
Indigent (adj) means Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live. Example: “The clinic offers free care to indigent patients.”
adj
1
Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live.
"The clinic offers free care to indigent patients."
noun
1
A person who is very poor.
"The shelter provides meals for the indigent."
How to use indigent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely poor, without the means to meet basic needs.
When to use it
A formal word, common in legal, medical, and administrative contexts rather than everyday speech.
Common pairings
indigent defendant
the indigent poor
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like indigent.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- indigents
- Comparative
- more indigent
- Superlative
- most indigent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The clinic offers free care to _____ patients.
Etymology
From Old French indigent, from Latin indigens, "needing," from indigere ("to need, lack").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for indigent
See all rhymes for 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.
