beggar

American  

[beg-er] / ˈbɛg ər /

noun

1. a person who begs beg alms or lives by begging. beg.

2. a penniless person.

3. a wretched fellow; rogue.

   the surly beggar who collects the rents.

4. a child or youngster (usually preceded bylittle ).

   a sudden urge to hug the little beggar.

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verb (used with object)

1. to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish.

   The family had been beggared by the war.

2. to cause one's resources of or ability for (description, comparison, etc.) to seem poor or inadequate.

   The costume beggars description.

beggar British  

/ ˈbɛɡə /

noun

1. a person who begs, esp one who lives by begging

2. a person who has no money or resources; pauper

3. ironic fellow

   lucky beggar!

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verb

1. to be beyond the resources of (esp in the phrase to beggar description )

2. to impoverish; reduce to begging

Other Word Forms

• beggarhood noun

Etymology

Origin of beggar

First recorded in 1175–1225, beggar is from the Middle English word beggare, beggere. See beg ¹, -er ¹, -ar ³

Example Sentences

"It's just garbage... the clothes you can't even wear, you wouldn't even give to a beggar," Akoth said.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

But over the following years, purported sightings of Majorana multiplied: as a beggar in Naples, a monk in Calabria, and a vagabond in South America.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 20, 2023

Francis has long said that true service and charity has to hurt, and that it’s not enough just to give a beggar a coin on the street.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

The watchful beggar tenderly holding an alert gray tiger cat in his lap has been bestowed with an attribute of clever endurance.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2023

I never saw anyone give money to a beggar.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

Related Words

• bum
• panhandler
• vagabond