poverty level

American  

noun

1. poverty line.

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poverty level Cultural  

1. A level of income above which it is possible to achieve an adequate standard of living and below which it is not. It fluctuates with the cost of living.

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Because the poverty level is somewhat artificially established by the government, it can be manipulated for political ends. As with hidden unemployment, governments are often accused of establishing a poverty level that underestimates the number of poor people.

Other Word Forms

• poverty-level adjective

Etymology

Origin of poverty level

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

After almost 20 years in power, Swinney defended his party's record in government, pointing to falling child poverty levels in Scotland, unemployment rates and growth in the renewable energy sector.

From BBC

As it happens, the government’s official poverty level for a family of four today is $32,150.

From Los Angeles Times

Child poverty levels are currently at a "historic high", the government says, with 4.5 million children - roughly a third - living in relative poverty after housing costs.

From BBC

Tuesday’s report also showed poverty levels in the U.S. were little changed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Especially troubling was the sharp cutoff of any subsidies for families earning even a dime more than 400% of the poverty level.

From Los Angeles Times