pauper

[ paw-per ]
See synonyms for pauper on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.

  2. a very poor person.

Origin of pauper

1
1485–95; <Latin: poor

Other words from pauper

  • pau·per·age, pau·per·dom, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for pauper

pauper

/ (ˈpɔːpə) /


noun
  1. a person who is extremely poor

  2. (formerly) a destitute person supported by public charity

Origin of pauper

1
C16: from Latin: poor

Derived forms of pauper

  • pauperism, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012