Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "breadline"
Search instead for Tread+On.
Synonyms

breadline

British  
/ ˈbrɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

  1. a queue of people waiting for free food given out by a government agency or a charity organization

  2. impoverished; living at subsistence level

"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

Vocabulary lists containing breadline

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"We're not on the breadline, but investing this money does mean doing a little less," says Richard.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney conceived “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the breadline scene in the 1932 revue “Americana,” where it was sung by Rex Weber.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

When the tour’s over, I’m back on the breadline, honey.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024

"If there is compensation, it should be equally balanced between those who need it - those on the breadline and in rural parts of the country."

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2023

Legion's phrase about the benches in Union Park and the breadline stuck in his mind.

From Masterman and Son by W. J. (William James) Dawson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training