disadvantaged

[ dis-uhd-van-tijd ]

adjective

1. lacking the normal or usual necessities and comforts of life, as proper housing, educational opportunities, job security, adequate medical care, etc.:

   The government extends help to disadvantaged minorities.

   Synonyms: deprived, impoverished, underprivileged, poor

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the disadvantaged. disadvantaged persons collectively:

   The senator advocates increased funding for federal programs that aid the disadvantaged.

disadvantaged

/ ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒd /

adjective

1. socially or economically deprived or discriminated against

Other Words From

• dis·ad·van·taged·ness noun
• non·dis·ad·van·taged adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disadvantaged¹

First recorded in 1930–35; disadvantage + -ed ²

Example Sentences

That means helping finance the transition to clean energy, supporting female entrepreneurs starting sustainable businesses, and backing development in climate action, gender equality, and financial education for disadvantaged customers.

From Outside Online

He wants to increase that number and give preference to businesses that hire and serve people in disadvantaged communities.

From Voice of San Diego

Analysis of the algorithm also revealed that it had disproportionately hurt students from working-class and disadvantaged communities and inflated the scores of students from private schools.

From MIT Technology Review

Since the measure specified that new PLAs would require apprenticeships, include community benefit provisions and exempt disadvantaged businesses, the city would still run afoul of state law, Scott Kronland, a Building Trades lawyer, wrote.

From Voice of San Diego

Whether or not you accept this verdict, these disparities are prompting questions about the fitness of the US public health system and America’s ability to protect its most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens from contagious diseases.

From No Straight News

“No, the church has to be on the side of the most disadvantaged, of the poorest, of the helpless,” the padre tells us.

From The Daily Beast

You have such a large portion of students who are economically disadvantaged, and you still turn out a success story every year.

From The Daily Beast

Many, especially those who come from an economically disadvantaged background, still face a glass ceiling.

From The Daily Beast

She is accused of using her celebrity to recruit socially disadvantaged minors with the potential to become professional models.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, we know that disadvantaged students of color end up being over-represented in the prison-industrial complex.

From The Daily Beast

And he is so little ashamed of or disadvantaged by his condition that he is not prepared to spend an hour in remedying it.

From Project Gutenberg

My budget adopts a hopeful new approach to help the poor and the disadvantaged.

From Project Gutenberg

Special targeting will give special help to the truly disadvantaged among our people.

From Project Gutenberg

But additional jobs for the disadvantaged deserve special attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore, I will propose a new program to encourage businesses to hire young and disadvantaged Americans.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deprived
• impaired
• impoverished
• poor
• underprivileged