pauperism

[ paw-puh-riz-uhm ]

noun

1. the state or condition of utter poverty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pauperism¹

First recorded in 1805–15; pauper + -ism

Example Sentences

Without equality, eugenics would inevitably falter on the false premise that social ills, such as vagrancy, pauperism, deviance, alcoholism, and feeblemindedness were genetic ills—while, in fact, they merely reflected inequality.

From Literature

"By the time of Queen Victoria's accession, the woollen-producing districts which had girdled mid Wales recorded some of the highest levels of pauperism in Britain," Prof Evans added.

From BBC

But in the half-century since Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis during his peaceful crusade against pauperism and racism, the city has been immersed in poverty, segregation and violence.

From New York Times

His patients, in his view, were miserable — and a future burden on the state, sure to lead to an uncontainable problem of “pauperism and criminality.”

From New York Times

This pauperism and extreme poverty also led to violence.

From Salon

Related Words

• bankruptcy
• debt
• deficit
• difficulty
• famine
• hardship
• lack
• scarcity
• shortage
• starvation
• underdevelopment