SKIP TO CONTENT

indigence

/ˈɪndɪdʒəns/
IPA guide

Indigence is a synonym for extreme poverty. If you experience indigence, you have a critical need for food, money, and other resources.

To correctly pronounce indigence, accent the first syllable: "IN-dih-genz." It means "great lack of material resources," like money. Indigence a noun, and indigent, an adjective, are related words that have to do with need. If you are indigent — suffering from extreme poverty — you are living in indigence, the state of extreme poverty.

Definitions of indigence
  1. noun
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
    “their indigence appalled him”
    see moresee less
    types:
    beggary, mendicancy, mendicity
    the state of being a beggar or mendicant
    type of:
    impoverishment, poorness, poverty
    the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘indigence'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family