Dictionary.com

destitute

[ des-ti-toot, -tyoot ]
/ ˈdɛs tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: destitute / destitutes on Thesaurus.com

adjective
without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed by of): destitute of children.
verb (used with object), des·ti·tut·ed, des·ti·tut·ing.
to leave destitute.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."
Question 1 of 7
IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

Origin of destitute

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin dēstitūtus (past participle of dēstituere to abandon, deprive of support), equivalent to dē-de- + stit- place, put (combining form of statuere;see statute) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM destitute

des·ti·tute·ly, adverbdes·ti·tute·ness, nounpre·des·ti·tute, adjectiveun·des·ti·tute, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use destitute in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for destitute

destitute
/ (ˈdɛstɪˌtjuːt) /

adjective
lacking the means of subsistence; totally impoverished
(postpositive foll by of) completely lacking; deprived or bereft (of)destitute of words
obsolete abandoned or deserted

Derived forms of destitute

destituteness, noun

Word Origin for destitute

C14: from Latin dēstitūtus forsaken, from dēstituere to leave alone, from statuere to place
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
FEEDBACK