penniless

American  

[pen-i-lis] / ˈpɛn ɪ lɪs /

adjective

1. without any money whatsoever; totally impoverished; destitute.

   Synonyms:

   indigent

   Antonyms:

   rich

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penniless British  

/ ˈpɛnɪlɪs /

adjective

1. very poor; almost totally without money

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Related Words

See poor.

Other Word Forms

• pennilessly adverb
• pennilessness noun

Etymology

Origin of penniless

First recorded in 1275–1325, penniless is from the Middle English word peniles. See penny, -less

Explanation

Someone who's penniless is very poor — they barely have enough money to pay for basics like food and shelter. If you're penniless, it can be tempting to buy a lottery ticket — but your odds of winning are terrible. People who live without enough — either because they've lost a job, had other bad luck, or are experiencing a temporarily poor stage in their lives — can call themselves penniless. Some college students feel penniless, having only enough cash to buy used books for class and eating every meal in the dining hall. This early fourteenth century word comes from the sense of "without even a penny."

Example Sentences

He smuggled himself into Hong Kong as a penniless 12-year-old escaping famine in communist China.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He was a humble guy who some said died penniless.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

So, if you happen to be one of the winners of the $965 million Mega Millions jackpot, how can you ensure you don’t end up penniless?

From MarketWatch • Nov. 12, 2025

Since he’s secretly penniless, Coop keeps up the posture of affluence.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2025

It occurred to me they didn’t see a penniless, ragged boy sitting across from them.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• bankrupt
• broke
• destitute
• impoverished
• indigent
• needy