Indigent
/ˈɪndɪdʒənt/
adjectivenounC2
Definition
Indigent means very poor, lacking enough money for food, clothing, or shelter. When used as a noun, it refers to a person who is in this state of poverty. It is a formal word often used in legal, social, or official contexts to describe extreme poverty.
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⚡ See It in Action
Adjective meaning very poor, lacking basic needs
- •The charity helps indigent families in the city.
- •Indigent patients receive free medical care at the hospital.
- •The government provides support for indigent citizens.
Noun meaning a person who is very poor
- •The shelter offers food and beds to indigents.
- •Many indigents rely on community aid to survive.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "indigent" like "poor" (A1 word), but much stronger and more serious—someone who cannot afford even the basics.
- ✓Picture a person with empty pockets and worn-out clothes who needs help to survive.
- ✓It's the feeling of worry or sadness when you see someone who has almost nothing.
- ✓Sounds like "in-DIDGE-ent" → imagine a person digging (didge) through trash because they have no money.
- ✓Think of stories or movies about people struggling to live with very little money and needing charity or support.
- ✓NOT like "poor" (which can be a little or moderate lack of money), "indigent" means extreme poverty and need.
- ✓NOT like "homeless" (no home), "indigent" focuses on lack of money, which may or may not include homelessness.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Needy: lacking enough money or resources (Use when talking about people who need help but not necessarily extreme poverty)
- •Impoverished: very poor, without money (Use in formal or written contexts about poverty)
- •Destitute: without basic means of survival (Use when poverty is very severe, often worse than indigent)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "in-" (not) + root related to "dignity" or "worthy" (from Latin "indigens" meaning needy)
- •Etymology: From Latin "indigens," meaning lacking or needy, related to needing help
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s in English to describe people in need or poverty
- •Modern usage: Used in law and social work to describe people who cannot afford basic needs or legal fees
- •Key insight: The word connects poverty with the idea of needing help or support from others
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does the word "indigent" change the way you think about poverty compared to simpler words like "poor"?
•In what situations might it be important to use a formal word like "indigent" instead of everyday words?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The hospital offers free care to indigent patients who cannot ___ medical bills.
2.Indigent families often need help with food, clothing, and ___.
3.Unlike "poor," "indigent" describes people who lack ___ basic needs.
4.The government program supports indigent citizens by providing ___ assistance.
5.When someone is indigent, they usually cannot afford ___ or rent.
6.Indigent people sometimes rely on ___ from charities to survive.
7.The social worker met with indigent individuals to understand their ___ and needs.