Indigence
Extreme poverty or destitution; the state of lacking the basic resources needed for living.
nounIndigence
Extreme poverty or destitution; the state of lacking the basic resources needed for living.
nounImagine This
Imagine a city street in winter where most people wear tattered coats. A homeless person shivers beside a closed storefront, clutching an empty cup while passersby hurry by, highlighting a palpable sense of indigence in the urban landscape.
Sounds Like
IN-dih-juhns
Looks Like
indigent (the related adjective)
Remember This
Indigence is a formal, literary term often used in policy discussions, historical accounts, or serious journalism. It is stronger than simple 'poverty' and emphasizes severe lack of resources.
Other Forms
Connect With
poverty, destitution, penury, privation, impoverishment
Note
Indigence refers to extreme poverty; avoid using it for everyday poverty. The adjective form is indigent, and the adverb form is indigently. Common mistakes include confusing it with 'income' or using it in casual speech when a simpler term like 'poverty' would suffice.