indigent
Indigent (adj) means Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live. Example: “The clinic offers free care to indigent patients.”
How to use indigent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely poor, without the means to meet basic needs.
A formal word, common in legal, medical, and administrative contexts rather than everyday speech.
Word forms
more indigent comparative, indigents plural, most indigent superlative
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").
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.