poverty line

NOUN

poverty level

Synonyms

WEAK

bare existence breadline hand-to-mouth existence mere existence pauperism poverty trap subsistence level

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.

Grandparent-headed households living below the poverty line total 17%, compared to 11% of older adults living without young relatives, according to the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

County, is framed as a major investment in equity, serving communities where a majority of residents are Latino and many live below the poverty line.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Around half of the population of the oil-rich country lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Congo-Brazzaville, a former French colony, is rich in oil but nearly half of its six million people live below the poverty line.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

Over half of the eight thousand residents lived below the poverty line.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore