Definition of 'poor'

Word Frequency

poor

(pʊəʳ , pɔːʳ )

Word forms: comparative poorer , superlative poorest

1. adjective

Someone who is poor has very little money and few possessions.

The reason our schools cannot afford better teachers is because people here are poor.

He was one of thirteen children from a poor family.

Synonyms: impoverished, broke [informal], badly off, hard up [informal] More Synonyms of poor

The poor are people who are poor.

Even the poor have their pride.

2. adjective

The people in a poor country or area have very little money and few possessions.

Many countries in the developing World are as poor as they have ever been.

...a settlement house for children in a poor neighborhood.

3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

You use poor to express your sympathy for someone.

[feelings]

I feel sorry for that poor child.

Poor chap–he was killed in an air crash.

Poor Gordon!

Synonyms: unfortunate, pathetic, miserable, unlucky More Synonyms of poor

4. adjective

If you describe something as poor, you mean that it is of a low quality or standard or that it is in bad condition.

The flat was in a poor state of repair.

The gap between the best and poorest childcare provision in Europe has widened.

The food was poor.

poorly adverb [ADVERB -ed, ADVERB after verb]

Some are living in poorly built dormitories, even in tents.

They were dressed and fed poorly.

5. adjective

If you describe an amount, rate, or number as poor, you mean that it is less than expected or less than is considered reasonable.

...poor wages and working conditions.

Synonyms: meagre, inadequate, insufficient, reduced More Synonyms of poor

poorly adverb [ADVERB -ed, ADVERB after verb]

During the first week, the evening meetings were poorly attended.

6. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

You use poor to describe someone who is not very skilful in a particular activity.

He was a poor actor.

Hospitals are poor at collecting information. [+ at]

poorly adverb [ADVERB after verb]

This team can play very well or very poorly.

Synonyms: badly, incompetently, inadequately, crudely More Synonyms of poor

7. adjective

If something is poor in a particular quality or substance, it contains very little of the quality or substance.

Fats and sugar are very rich in energy but poor in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

...soil that is poor in zinc.

More Synonyms of poor

Video: pronunciation of
poor

poor in British English

(pʊə , pɔː )

adjective

lacking financial or other means of subsistence; needy

(as collective noun; preceded by the)

the poor

characterized by or indicating poverty

the country had a poor economy

deficient in amount; scanty or inadequate

a poor salary

4. (when postpositive, usually foll by in)

badly supplied (with resources, materials, etc)

a region poor in wild flowers

lacking in quality; inferior

giving no pleasure; disappointing or disagreeable

a poor play

7. (prenominal)

deserving of pity; unlucky

poor John is ill again

8. See poor man's something

Derived forms

poorness (ˈpoorness)

noun

Word origin

C13: from Old French povre, from Latin pauper; see pauper, poverty

Word Frequency

poor in American English

(pʊr )

adjective

lacking material possessions; having little or no means to support oneself; needy; impoverished

indicating or characterized by poverty

lacking in some quality or thing

; specif.,

lacking abundance; scanty; inadequate

poor crops

lacking productivity; barren; sterile

poor soil

lacking nourishment; feeble; emaciated

a poor body

lacking excellence or worth; below average, inferior, bad, etc. or paltry, mean, insignificant, etc.

lacking good moral or mental qualities; mean-spirited; contemptible

lacking pleasure, comfort, or satisfaction

to have a poor time

lacking skill

worthy of pity; unfortunate

Idioms:

the poor

SYNONYMY NOTE: poor is the simple, direct term for one who lacks the resources for reasonably comfortable living; impoverished (see impoverish) is applied to one who having once had plenty is now reduced to poverty [an impoverished aristocrat]; destitute implies such great poverty that the means for mere subsistence, such as food and shelter, are lacking [left destitute by the war]; impecunious applies to one in a habitual state of poverty and suggests that this results from personal practices [an impecunious gambler]; indigent implies such relative poverty as results in a lack of luxuries and the endurance of hardships [books for indigent children]

OPPOSITES: rich, wealthy

Derived forms

poorness (ˈpoorness)

noun

Word origin

ME pore < OFr povre < L pauper, poor < IE base *pōu-, small > few, foal

Word Frequency

poor in American English

(pur) (adjective -er, -est)

adjective

having little or no money, goods, or other means of support

a poor family living on welfare

2. Law

dependent upon charity or public support

3. (of a country, institution, etc.)

meagerly supplied or endowed with resources or funds

characterized by or showing poverty

deficient or lacking in something specified

a region poor in mineral deposits

faulty or inferior, as in construction

poor workmanship

deficient in desirable ingredients, qualities, or the like

poor soil

excessively lean or emaciated, as cattle

of an inferior, inadequate, or unsatisfactory kind

poor health

10.

lacking in skill, ability, or training

a poor cook

11.

deficient in moral excellence; cowardly, abject, or mean

12.

scanty, meager, or paltry in amount or number

a poor audience

13.

humble; modest

They shared their poor meal with a stranger

14.

unfortunate; hapless

The poor dog was limping

15. See poor as a church mouse

16. See poor as Job's turkey

noun

17. (used with a pl. v.; usually prec. by the)

poor persons collectively

sympathy for the poor

In the North and North Midland U.S., the vowel of poor is most often (u). poor and sure thus contrast with pour and shore: (pur), (ʃur) versus (pɔr), (ʃɔr) or (pour), (ʃour). In the South Midland and South, the vowel of poor is generally (ɔ) or (ou) (often with the final (r) dropped), which means that in these areas, poor and pour are homophones, as are sure and shore. Both types of pronunciation exist in the British Isles.

Derived forms

poorness

noun

Word origin

[1150–1200; ME pov(e)re ‹ OF povre ‹ L pauper. See pauper]

Examples of 'poor' in a sentence
poor

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The visible effects can also include obesity and poor skin quality.But the potential return offered is sometimes so poor there is little point in using them.But education chiefs insist it will help 10,000 schools in the poorest areas.You can see why today's parents feel so poor. Thanks to low wages and high rents, young people are relatively poor in real terms.She added: 'We are poor and cannot afford expensive treatment. Pity the poor orchestra having to play second fiddle to that load of rubbish.Many more are too poor to afford tests.It will lead to huge financial overspend and poor training. Many people in poorer areas do not venture out at night.