poverty
Translation
poverty, destitution, scarcity
Examples
Many people live in extreme poverty.
Many people live in extreme poverty.
There is a poverty of new ideas.
There is a poverty of new ideas.
Grammar Patterns
to live in poverty to be extremely poor Many families live in poverty.
a poverty of ((sth.)) a lack of (sth.) The report showed a poverty of imagination.
Similar Words
Synonyms: destitution, need; Antonyms: wealth, affluence
Etymology
From Old French 'poverte', from Latin 'paupertas', from 'pauper' meaning 'poor'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'poor' + the suffix '-ty', which indicates a state or condition. So, 'poverty' is the state of being poor.