pauper

American

[paw-per] / ˈpɔ pər /

noun

a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.
a very poor person.

pauper British

/ ˈpɔːpə /

noun

a person who is extremely poor
(formerly) a destitute person supported by public charity

"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

Other Word Forms

pauperage noun
pauperdom noun
pauperism noun

Etymology

Origin of pauper

1485–95; < Latin: poor

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.

A Nigerian mum might say: 'Do you want to live your life as a pauper forever?'

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025

Gi-hun, meanwhile, is living like a pauper, holed up in an empty fleabag hotel he owns and refusing to spend any of the fortune he’d won on himself.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2024

He kept a stash of money sewed into his ragged coat and conveniently escaped for a hot bath and a good meal while pretending to pass as a pauper.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2024

For most of human history, identity was ascribed at birth: pauper, peasant, preacher, princess.

From Slate • Aug. 3, 2024

“I don’t have money—that’s correct. I’m a pauper and I work my fingers to the bone. The baishakunin lied to you. I’m sorry for that, but—” “Don’t talk to me, please,” said Fujiko.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023