destitution
nounUS /dɛstɪˈtuːʃən/ · UK /dɛstɪˈtjuːʃən/
Etymology From Old French destitution, from Latin dēstitūtiō (“abandoning”), from dēstituō.
1
Obsolete The action of deserting or abandoning.
2
Archaic Discharge from office; dismissal.
3
The condition of lacking something.
- He requires of his fellow man obedience to a very creditable code of morals, but he observes without shame or disapproval his God's utter destitution of morals.1906, “Mark Twain”, in The Bible According to Mark Twain, published 1996, page 330:
4
An extreme state of poverty, in which a person is almost completely lacking in resources or means of support.
- Destitution forces many asylum seekers to end up working for extremely low wages in catering, cleaning and construction, for example, without any protection against unscrupulous employers.2009 August 4, Rahila Gupta, The Guardian:
- Related terms
- destitute