poverty level

American  

noun

1. poverty line.

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poverty level Cultural  

1. A level of income above which it is possible to achieve an adequate standard of living and below which it is not. It fluctuates with the cost of living.

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Because the poverty level is somewhat artificially established by the government, it can be manipulated for political ends. As with hidden unemployment, governments are often accused of establishing a poverty level that underestimates the number of poor people.

Other Word Forms

• poverty-level adjective

Etymology

Origin of poverty level

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

People earning more than 400% above the federal poverty level have lost their eligibility for tax credits.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The state government allocated $190 million this year to provide subsidies for those earning up to 165% of the federal poverty level.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

The couple faced such a big increase because they earn about $110,000 a year combined, or more than 400% of the federal poverty level.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

An individual earning $62,600 a year, or a family of four making $128,600, represents 400% of the federal poverty level in 2025, according to the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 2025

Accordingly, a formerly incarcerated person living at or below the poverty level can be charged by four or five departments at once and can be required to surrender 100 percent of his or her earnings.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander