indigent

American  

[in-di-juhnt] / ˈɪn dɪ dʒənt /

adjective

1. lacking food, clothing, and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished.

   Synonyms:

   distressed, penurious, necessitous

2. Archaic.

   1. deficient in what is requisite.

   2. destitute (usually followed byof ).

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noun

1. a person who is indigent.

indigent British  

/ ˈɪndɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. so poor as to lack even necessities; very needy

2. archaic (usually foll by of) lacking (in) or destitute (of)

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noun

1. an impoverished person

Other Word Forms

• indigence noun
• indigently adverb

Etymology

Origin of indigent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin indigent-, stem of indigēns “needing, lacking,” present participle of indigēre “to need, lack, be poor,” from ind-, variant of in- in- ² ( indagate ) + -igēre, combining form of egēre “to need, lack”

Example Sentences

Dueñas, a 2019 ruling from the state’s appellate division that found imposing mandatory fines on indigent people ran afoul of the 8th Amendment, which prohibits excessive fines along with cruel and unusual punishment.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

In it, he condemned “wealthy owners and all masters” who sought to profit off “the indigent and destitute.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the Constitution prohibits the prosecution of indigent people who sleep in public places when there is no available shelter space.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2024

“Most of those guys are indigent, the traffickers,” Gauen said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2024

Collins needed the extra money; although not indigent, he was always short of income since he was living off Ethel’s salary as a part-time nurse.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• destitute
• impoverished
• needy
• penniless
• poverty-stricken