poor

/pʊr/

having little money or resources

She comes from a poor family but works hard to succeed.

This shows that someone from a financially disadvantaged background can still achieve success through effort.

general

Lacking sufficient money or resources to meet basic needs

Many children in developing countries grow up in poor families.

This highlights the economic struggles faced by families in less developed regions.

Often used to describe individuals or communities with financial hardship.

general

Of low quality or standard

The restaurant received poor reviews for its food and service.

This indicates that the establishment did not meet customer expectations.

Can describe anything from products to performance.

Collocations

poor familya family with financial strugglespoor healthbad physical or mental conditionpoor performancelow-quality or unsatisfactory results

extremely poor

humble or meek

The meaning of 'poor' changes based on context—financial or quality-related.

When describing people, focus on circumstances rather than labeling individuals.

From Middle English 'poure', from Old French 'povre', from Latin 'pauper' meaning 'poor, needy'.

Can be used both literally (financial) and figuratively (quality). Avoid using it to describe people in a derogatory manner.

poor

lacking resources or quality

root

English Dictionary