Money and banking / B2

POV-uh-tee/ˈpɒvəti/

Poverty is the state of being very poor: in poverty, child poverty, poverty line. Poor is the adjective; hardship is wider suffering; deprivation is a social-science cousin. Uncountable. In speech, being very poor is enough. Do not write “a poverty”, and in UK news relative poverty vs absolute poverty is a technical debate — only use the labels if you can define them.

Meaning

The state of being very poor (uncountable).

Examples

• “Child poverty rose in several regions last year.”
• “Child poverty rose in several English regions last year.”
• “Fuel poverty means being unable to keep the home warm, which is a related official phrase.”

Good to know

in poverty; child poverty (uncountable). Adjective: poor. Wider: hardship. Not “a poverty”. Technical: relative / absolute / fuel poverty.

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