indigent

UK: /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/ US: /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/ ,(in′di jənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•di•gent /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/   adj. 

1. needy;
   poor;
   impoverished.

n. the indigent [plural* used with a plural verb]

2. people who are indigent:
   a desire to do something for the indigent.

in•di•gent•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•di•gent  (in′di jənt), adj. 

1. lacking food, clothing, and other necessities of life because of poverty;
   needy;
   poor;
   impoverished.
2. [Archaic.]
   • deficient in what is requisite.
   • destitute (usually fol. by of ).

n. 

3. a person who is indigent.

• Latin indigent- (stem of indigēns) present participle of indigēre to need, lack, be poor, equivalent. to ind- by-form of in- in-² (compare indagate) + -ig- (combining form of egēre to need, lack) + -ent- -ent
• Middle English 1350–1400

in′di•gent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. necessitous, penurious, distressed.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

indigent / ˈɪndɪdʒənt/ adjective

1. so poor as to lack even necessities; very needy
2. (usually followed by of) lacking (in) or destitute (of)

noun

1. an impoverished person

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin indigēre to need, from egēre to lack

ˈindigence noun

ˈindigently adverb