poor
Describes someone who has very little money, possessions, or resources to live comfortably. It is also used to describe something of low quality, a lack of skill, or to express sympathy for someone's situation.
Examples
3 of 5Many poor families in the city rely on local food banks.
Families with very little money in the city use community food services.
The government is committed to improving living standards for poor communities.
The authorities want to help groups of people who do not have much wealth.
I'm too poor to buy that new video game right now.
I don't have enough money to purchase that game at the moment.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the two 'O's in 'poor' as two empty pockets with zero coins in them.
Quick Quiz
The restaurant closed down because the food was of very ___ quality.
Correct!
The correct answer is: poor
Examples
Many poor families in the city rely on local food banks.
everydayFamilies with very little money in the city use community food services.
The government is committed to improving living standards for poor communities.
formalThe authorities want to help groups of people who do not have much wealth.
I'm too poor to buy that new video game right now.
informalI don't have enough money to purchase that game at the moment.
The report highlights a correlation between poor nutrition and low academic scores.
academicThe study shows a link between bad eating habits and low grades.
The project failed due to poor planning and a lack of investment.
businessThe business venture did not succeed because the strategy was bad.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
poor thing
an expression of sympathy for someone who is suffering
as poor as a church mouse
having no money at all
a poor man's version
a cheaper or inferior substitute for something expensive
Often Confused With
'Pour' is a verb meaning to make a liquid flow from a container.
'Pore' is a noun referring to a small opening in the skin.
Usage Notes
Use 'poor' when discussing financial status, but remember it also acts as a synonym for 'unskilled' or 'low-grade' (e.g., poor at sports).
Common Mistakes
Do not say 'the poors' to refer to a group of people; instead, use 'the poor' as a collective noun or 'poor people'.
Memory Tip
Think of the two 'O's in 'poor' as two empty pockets with zero coins in them.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French 'poure', which comes from the Latin 'pauper', meaning 'getting little'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking societies, the term 'low-income' is often used in professional settings as a more sensitive alternative to 'poor'.
Quick Quiz
The restaurant closed down because the food was of very ___ quality.
Correct!
The correct answer is: poor
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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