poor

American  

[poor] / pʊər /

adjective

poorer, poorest

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

   She came from a poor family struggling to survive.

   Synonyms:

   straitened, necessitous, poverty-stricken, penniless, destitute, impoverished, indigent, needy

   Antonyms:

   wealthy, rich

2. Law. dependent upon charity or public support.

3. (of a country, institution, etc.) meagerly supplied or endowed with resources or funds.

4. characterized by or showing poverty.

5. deficient or lacking in something specified.

   a region poor in mineral deposits.

   Synonyms:

   meager

6. faulty or inferior, as in construction.

   poor workmanship.

   Synonyms:

   shabby, unsatisfactory

7. (of land or soil) lacking abundance or productivity.

   poor soil.

   Synonyms:

   unfruitful, barren, sterile

   Antonyms:

   fertile

8. excessively lean or emaciated, as cattle.

   Synonyms:

   thin, gaunt, meager, skinny

9. 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.

    Synonyms:

    pitiable, unhappy, miserable

---

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Often Disparaging and Offensive. Usually the poor poor people collectively.

idioms

1. poor as Job's turkey, extremely poor.

2. poor as a church mouse, extremely poor.

poor British  

/ pʊə, pɔː /

adjective

1. 1. lacking financial or other means of subsistence; needy

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the poor

2. characterized by or indicating poverty

   the country had a poor economy

3. deficient in amount; scanty or inadequate

   a poor salary

4. badly supplied (with resources, materials, etc)

   a region poor in wild flowers

5. lacking in quality; inferior

6. giving no pleasure; disappointing or disagreeable

   a poor play

7. (prenominal) deserving of pity; unlucky

   poor John is ill again

8. a (cheaper) substitute for something

---

Pronunciation

In North and North Midland U.S. English, the vowel of poor is most often . Poor and sure thus contrast with pour and shore: , versus , or , . In the South Midland and South, the vowel of poor is generally or (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.

Related Words

Poor, impecunious, impoverished, penniless refer to those lacking money. Poor is the simple term for the condition of lacking means to obtain the comforts of life: a very poor family. Impecunious often suggests that the poverty is a consequence of unwise habits: an impecunious actor. Impoverished often implies a former state of greater plenty, from which one has been reduced: the impoverished aristocracy. Penniless may mean destitute, or it may apply simply to a temporary condition of being without funds: The widow was left penniless with three small children.

Other Word Forms

• nonpoor noun
• poorness noun
• quasi-poor adjective
• quasi-poorly adverb

Etymology

Origin of poor

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English pov(e)re, from Old French povre, from Latin pauper; see pauper

Explanation

Poor describes having little of something. If you lack needed food and shelter, you're poor, and if you fall below a standard or don't even try, you're giving a poor performance. Empty pockets and empty efforts both mean poor. Rich or wealthy often serve as opposites of poor. If you have material things, you're rich, and if you don't, you're poor. You can be full of knowledge but get poor grades if you're not studying, or you might be poor in terms of money but rich in friends and kindness. Poor can also be used as a noun, as in "Charity is aimed at helping the poor."

Example Sentences

Burnley's dire league form has been compounded by poor cup performances.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

She blames me for her poor relationship with her son and grandchildren, without considering that her aggressive, demanding and neglectful behavior may have pushed them away.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

To contain the economic fallout, the Iranian government has raised wages, subsidized basic goods and handed out cash to the poor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

At community meetings, Seymour admitted his shock at learning about the poor relations between the police and many residents.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

They force him to drink some horrid potion, and next thing you know the poor chap’s evacuating from both ends.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• feeble
• inferior
• insufficient
• meager
• mediocre
• miserable
• modest
• ordinary
• shoddy
• substandard
• unsatisfactory
• weak