adj
C2
Proficient
meagre
MEEG
Meagre (adj) means Poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. Example: “The company posted meagre profits for the third year running.”
adj
1
Poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough.
"The company posted meagre profits for the third year running."
"He offered only a meagre apology after the mistake."
noun
1
A large silvery fish found from the Black Sea to the eastern Atlantic, prized in some cuisines.
"The chef served grilled meagre with a lemon butter sauce."
How to use meagre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe British spelling of "meager" — not enough of something; also the name of an edible fish.
UK vs US
Standard British/Commonwealth spelling; American English uses "meager".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
meagre income
meagre supply
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Word forms
- Plural
- meagres
- Third person singular
- meagres
- Past tense
- meagred
- Comparative
- meagrer
- Superlative
- meagrest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company posted _____ profits for the third year running.
Etymology
From Middle French maigre, ultimately from Latin macer ("thin, lean").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “meagre” mean?
The word “meagre” means poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. In plain terms, the British spelling of "meager" — not enough of something; also the name of an edible fish.
How do you pronounce “meagre”?
“Meagre” is pronounced MEEG (/ˈmiːɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “meagre” in a sentence?
Here is “meagre” used in a sentence: “The company posted meagre profits for the third year running.”
What part of speech is “meagre”?
Depending on how it is used, “meagre” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “meagre” come from?
The word “meagre” comes from Latin. From Middle French maigre, ultimately from Latin macer ("thin, lean").
How many meanings does “meagre” have?
“Meagre” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough.
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