adj B1 Intermediate

penniless

PEH-nih-luhs

Penniless (adj) means having no money at all; extremely poor. Example: “He arrived in the city penniless and slept in the train station.”

adj

Having no money at all; extremely poor.

"He arrived in the city penniless and slept in the train station."

"The gambling debts left the family virtually penniless."

How to use penniless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCompletely broke, without a single penny.

Common pairings

left penniless penniless and homeless

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Can you complete this real example?

He arrived in the city _____ and slept in the train station.

From Middle English penyles — penny + -less.

Origin: Middle English

pitiless merciless

What does “penniless” mean?

The word “penniless” means having no money at all; extremely poor. In plain terms, completely broke, without a single penny.

How do you pronounce “penniless”?

“Penniless” is pronounced PEH-nih-luhs (/ˈpɛ.nɪ.ləs/ in IPA).

How do you use “penniless” in a sentence?

Here is “penniless” used in a sentence: “He arrived in the city penniless and slept in the train station.”

What part of speech is “penniless”?

“Penniless” is an adjective.

Where does the word “penniless” come from?

The word “penniless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English penyles — penny + -less.

Vocabulary lists that include penniless: