Indigent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈin-di-jənt/ in·di·gent

Meaning & Definition of Indigent

Indigent (adjective)

  1. suffering from extreme poverty, impoverished
  2. deficient
  3. totally lacking in something specified

Indigent (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking money or material possessions

    "because he was indigent, the court appointed a lawyer to represent him"

    similar: beggared, beggarly, broke, destitute, dirt-poor, down-and-out, famished, hard up, impecunious, impoverished, necessitous, needful, needy, pauperized, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken, skint (chiefly British), threadbare, down on one's luck, out at elbows, out of pocket
    related: deprived, disadvantaged, dispossessed, unaffluent, underprivileged, bankrupt, bankrupted, bust, insolvent, possessionless, ruined, depressed, distressed, hand-to-mouth, hardscrabble, pinched, poorish, reduced, straitened, cash-strapped, low, short, tapped out
    opposite: affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, moneyed, opulent, rich, silk-stocking, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do
    near: comfortable, prosperous

Indigent (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in have-not, pauper

    similar: down-and-out, have-not, pauper, ne'er-do-well, hobo, tramp, vagabond, drifter, roamer, transient, almsman, beggar, mendicant, panhandler, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif, bankrupt, insolvent
    opposite: affluent, deep pocket, fat cat, have, moneybags, plutocrat, billionaire, billionairess, gazillionaire, millionaire, millionairess, magnate, moneymaker, nabob, success, tycoon

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Indigent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Indigent:

Chiefly British: skint
beggared, beggarly, broke, destitute, dirt-poor, down-and-out, famished, hard up, impecunious, impoverished, necessitous, needful, needy, pauperized, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken, threadbare, down on one's luck, out at elbows, out of pocket, have-not, pauper, ne'er-do-well, hobo, tramp, vagabond, drifter, roamer, transient, almsman, beggar, mendicant, panhandler, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif, bankrupt

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Indigent

Words with the opposite meaning of Indigent:

affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, moneyed, opulent, rich, silk-stocking, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do, deep pocket, fat cat, have, moneybags, plutocrat, billionaire, billionairess, gazillionaire, millionaire, millionairess, magnate, moneymaker, nabob, success, tycoon

Related Words for Indigent

deprived, disadvantaged, dispossessed, unaffluent, underprivileged, bankrupted, bust, possessionless, ruined, depressed, distressed, hand-to-mouth, hardscrabble, pinched, poorish, reduced, straitened, cash-strapped, low, short, tapped out

Near Antonyms of Indigent

comfortable, prosperous

Word Forms of Indigent

Derived words: indigent (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Indigent

Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from Latin indigent-, indigens, present participle of indigēre to need, from Old Latin indu + Latin egēre to need; perhaps akin to Old High German echerode poor

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Indigent

What does "Indigent" mean?

"Indigent" means suffering from extreme poverty, impoverished. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: suffering from extreme poverty, impoverished. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Indigent"?

Other words for "Indigent" include beggared, beggarly, broke, destitute, dirt-poor, down-and-out, famished and hard up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Indigent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Indigent"?

There are 63 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Indigent". Common alternatives include beggared, beggarly, broke, destitute, dirt-poor, down-and-out, famished, hard up, impecunious and impoverished.

What is the opposite of "Indigent"?

Antonyms of "Indigent" include affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, moneyed, opulent and rich. Near antonyms include comfortable and prosperous.

How do you use "Indigent" in a sentence?

Examples of "Indigent" in a sentence: "because he was indigent, the court appointed a lawyer to represent him".

Is "Indigent" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Indigent" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Indigent"?

"Indigent" is pronounced /ˈin-di-jənt/ and divided into syllables as in·di·gent.

What is the origin of the word "Indigent"?

"Indigent" comes from Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from Latin indigent-, indigens, present participle of indigēre to need, from Old Latin indu + Latin egēre to need; perhaps akin to Old High German echerode poor. First known use: 15th century.