Landless

Describing an individual, community, or society that does not own or have secure access to land. This lack of land ownership can stem from various historical and economic factors, including colonialism, displacement, inheritance practices, and poverty. Landlessness often results in precarious living conditions, economic vulnerability, and limited political power. It can also impact social structures and access to resources. The concept highlights the profound connection between land, identity, and livelihood, underscoring the significance of land rights and equitable land distribution.

Landless meaning with examples

• The agrarian reforms aimed to address the plight of landless peasants by redistributing farmland. Many families, displaced by the war, found themselves landless and struggling to rebuild their lives. Their farm used to be their pride and joy, but now, they found themselves without it due to the lack of funds to keep it.
• Generations of indentured servants were effectively landless, working the fields for landowners with no claim to the property. Forced eviction led to a huge amount of landless families moving to the city in the hope of a better future. They soon found out, it wasn't that easy in the crowded city streets.
• Indigenous communities often face landlessness due to the encroachment of industry and the loss of ancestral territories. After a drought, many farmers became landless because they could no longer afford the seeds they needed to grow crops and had to move to find a job in another city.
• The consequences of environmental degradation often disproportionately affect the landless, who are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters. After moving to the city, many families found themselves landless but living in a cardboard box on the city streets because they had no money to spend on rental costs.