poverty

The word “poverty” means the state of being poor; lacking enough money to meet basic needs. In plain terms, not having enough money or resources to live comfortably — or, more broadly, a serious lack of something.

“Poverty” is pronounced PO-vuh-tee (/ˈpɑːvɚti/ in IPA).

Here is “poverty” used in a sentence: “The charity works to reduce child poverty in the region.”

Words with a similar meaning to “poverty” include beggary, brokeness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness and indigence.

The opposite of “poverty” — its antonyms — are abundance, decadence, lap of luxury, luxury and riches.

“Poverty” is a noun.

The word “poverty” comes from Latin. From Old French poverté, from Latin paupertas, from pauper, "poor" — the same root as "pauper" and "poor".

“Poverty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Poverty is often divided into absolute and relative. Absolute poverty means lacking the basic necessities for survival, such as food, clean water, and shelter. Relative poverty means having far less than the typical standard in one's own society, so a person may fall behind even in a wealthy country.

The opposite of poverty is wealth, affluence, or prosperity, having more than enough money to meet one's needs comfortably. Related terms include riches and abundance. Where poverty is defined by scarcity and going without, its antonyms describe security, plenty, and the freedom that financial comfort brings.

Poverty has many overlapping causes. They include unemployment and low wages, poor access to education and healthcare, conflict, and natural disasters. Wider factors such as economic downturns, inequality, and discrimination can trap people or whole communities in hardship. Rarely does a single cause act alone; several usually combine.