Pauper

A pauper is an extremely poor person, especially one who is supported by public funds or charity. This individual lacks the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing. The term often implies a state of destitution and vulnerability, reflecting a lack of personal resources and the need for external assistance to survive. Paupers may face social stigma and limited opportunities, highlighting systemic inequalities within society.

Pauper meaning with examples

• The old woman, having lost her home and family, was reduced to a pauper, relying on the kindness of strangers and the meager offerings from the local church for sustenance. Her plight served as a stark reminder of the precarity of life.
• The historical novel painted a vivid picture of life in the slums, where countless families lived as paupers, struggling daily to find work and feed their children. They had nothing, and death, a cruel mistress, was always near.
• Despite working tirelessly, the struggling farmer eventually became a pauper after a series of devastating crop failures and could no longer support his family. He went from having a thriving farm, to nothing.
• The government's welfare programs aimed to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable, ensuring that no citizen would be left to become a pauper, facing starvation or homelessness, and to allow for their independence.