destitution

[ des-ti-too-shuhn, -tyoo- ]
See synonyms for destitution on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. lack of the means of subsistence; utter poverty.

  2. deprivation, lack, or absence.

Origin of destitution

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Latin dēstitūtiōn- (stem of dēstitūtiō) an abandoning, equivalent to dēstitūt(us) (see destitute) + -iōn--ion

Opposites for destitution

Other words from destitution

  • pre·des·ti·tu·tion, noun

Words Nearby destitution

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

How to use destitution in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for destitution

destitution

/ (ˌdɛstɪˈtjuːʃən) /


noun
  1. the state of being destitute; utter poverty

  2. rare lack or deficiency

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