impecunious

[ im-pi-kyoo-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. having little or no money; penniless; poor.

   Synonyms: poverty-stricken, destitute

impecunious

/ ˌɪmpɪkjuːnɪˈɒsɪtɪ; ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːnɪəs /

adjective

1. without money; penniless

Derived Forms

• ˌimpeˈcuniousness, noun
• ˌimpeˈcuniously, adverb

Other Words From

• impe·cuni·ous·ly adverb
• impe·cuni·ous·ness im·pe·cu·ni·os·i·ty [im-pi-kyoo-nee-, os, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impecunious¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; im- ² + obsolete pecunious “wealthy,” from Latin pecūniōsus, equivalent to pecūni(a) “wealth” + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of impecunious¹

C16: from im- (not) + -pecunious, from Latin pecūniōsus wealthy, from pecūnia money

Synonym Study

See poor.

Example Sentences

His friend, John Hancock, born the son of an impecunious country parson, was adopted by his childless uncle, probably the richest merchant in New England.

From Time

We’re not talking public or academic institutions, but what any impecunious collector vainly covets — an English country-house library or what Byers calls a “bookwrapt” study like that of Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady.”

From Washington Post

It's a system that mostly benefits restaurant critics and a select few relatively impecunious friends of restauranteurs.

From The Daily Beast

With him we have not anything to do, except to say that of all men he was the most impecunious.

From Project Gutenberg

They seemed an impecunious assemblage, gathered for mere sport.

From Project Gutenberg

I'm the only niece of poor but impecunious relatives, and they expect me to do my best and marry well.

From Project Gutenberg

And as a single man he had succeeded, being sometimes utterly impecunious, but still with a capacity of living.

From Project Gutenberg

She had sometimes heard that Everett was impecunious, but that had simply indicated an additional call upon her father.

From Project Gutenberg