poor

poor · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Lacking sufficient money to live at a comfortable standard.

  2. 2.

    Of low quality or standard.

  3. 3.

    Deserving of pity or sympathy.

  4. 4.

    Lacking in a specified resource or quality.

  5. 5.

    (the poor) People without sufficient money or resources.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    poor health — A state of being unwell or sickly.
  • •
    poor man's — An inferior or cheaper version of something.
  • •
    poor relation — A person or thing considered inferior to others of the same type.
  • •
    dirt poor — Extremely poor.
  • •
    as poor as a church mouse — Very poor.

Related words

Antonyms: affluent, excellent, rich, wealthy
See also: needy, poverty, rich, wealth
Synonyms: destitute, impoverished, inferior, needy

Etymology

From Old French povre, poure, from Latin pauper ("poor"), from paucus ("little, few") + parare ("to get, prepare").