pauper

[paw-per]

noun

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

2. a very poor person.

pauper

/ ˈpɔːpə /

noun

1. a person who is extremely poor

2. (formerly) a destitute person supported by public charity

Other Word Forms

• pauperism noun
• pauperage noun
• pauperdom noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pauper¹

1485–95; < Latin: poor

Word History and Origins

Origin of pauper¹

C16: from Latin: poor

Example Sentences

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

From BBC

The sport of kings to some, the sport of paupers for most.

From Salon

"The RFU keep trumpeting community rugby as the lifeblood of the game, while at the same time seemingly treating them like paupers."

From BBC

Gi-hun, meanwhile, is living like a pauper, holed up in an empty fleabag hotel he owns and refusing to spend any of the fortune he’d won on himself.

From Los Angeles Times

But Candy is a pauper compared with Musk, the serial entrepreneurial disruptor in business with his rockets, electric cars and social media platform, now doing the same in politics.

From BBC