pauper

American

[paw-per] / ˈpɔ pər /

noun

a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.
a very poor person.

pauper British

/ ˈpɔːpə /

noun

a person who is extremely poor
(formerly) a destitute person supported by public charity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

pauperage noun
pauperdom noun
pauperism noun

Etymology

Origin of pauper

1485–95; < Latin: poor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Nigerian mum might say: 'Do you want to live your life as a pauper forever?'

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025

For most of human history, identity was ascribed at birth: pauper, peasant, preacher, princess.

From Slate • Aug. 3, 2024

Follow the adage "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper."

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2022

De León noted that when Villaraigosa beat incumbent Hahn in 2005, Hahn was a pauper compared with Caruso.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2022

Now Miss Rosa was not only an orphan, but a pauper too.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023