Impecunious
/ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːniəs/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Impecunious describes a person or group who does not have enough money to live comfortably or pay for basic needs. It is a formal and strong way to say someone is poor or broke. It often refers to a long-term or serious lack of money.
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See It in Action
Having little or no money; poor
- •The impecunious student could not afford textbooks.
- •Many impecunious families struggle to pay rent every month.
- •The charity helps impecunious people find food and shelter.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "impecunious" like "poor" (A1 word), but more formal and serious, often used in books or formal speech
- ✓Picture a person with an empty wallet and no coins, looking worried about paying bills
- ✓It's the feeling when you can't buy what you need and must ask for help or live very simply
- ✓Sounds like "im-PECK-you-nee-us" → imagine a small bird ("peck") looking for crumbs but finding none, showing it has no money
- ✓In stories, impecunious characters often struggle but may have rich ideas or kindness despite money problems
- ✓NOT like "rich" (having lots of money), impecunious means almost the opposite—no money at all
- ✓NOT like "broke" (informal, temporary), impecunious is more formal and can suggest ongoing poverty
- ✓NOT like "needy" (asking for help), impecunious focuses on the lack of money itself
Try Other Words
- •Poor: having little money (Use in everyday conversation)
- •Needy: lacking basic needs, often needing help (Use when focusing on needing help, not just money)
- •Destitute: extremely poor, without basic needs (Use for very extreme poverty)
- •Broke: having no money temporarily (Use in informal speech for short-term money problems)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "im-" meaning "not" or "without"
- •Root: "pecun-" from Latin "pecunia" meaning "money"
- •Suffix: "-ious" meaning "full of" or "having"
- •Etymology: From Latin "impecuniosus," meaning "without money"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 17th century to describe people without money, often in formal or literary contexts
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in writing or formal speech to describe serious or long-term poverty
Reflect & Connect
•How does the word "impecunious" change the way you think about poverty compared to simpler words like "poor" or "broke"?
•Can you think of situations where using a formal word like "impecunious" would be better than using everyday words?
Fill in the blanks
1.The impecunious artist could not afford ___ to buy new paints or brushes.
2.After losing his job, he became impecunious and struggled to pay ___ rent on time.
3.Unlike someone who is just broke for a short time, an impecunious person often faces ___ money problems.
4.The charity focuses on helping impecunious families who live ___ poverty every day.
5.When writing a formal letter about financial difficulties, using the word impecunious sounds more ___ than just saying "poor."
6.An impecunious student may need to apply for ___ to continue their education.
7.The novel tells the story of an impecunious gentleman who, despite his lack of money, showed great ___ and kindness.