Standard Lemma guide

indigence

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/
  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Extreme poverty or destitution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indigency

Antonyms: affluence

2

noun

Meaning 2

a state of extreme poverty or destitution

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • their indigence appalled him
  • a general state of need exists among the homeless

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: need, penury, pauperism, pauperization

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: poverty, poorness, impoverishment

Narrower terms: beggary, mendicancy, mendicity

History

Etymology

From Middle English indigence, late 14th century, from Old French indigence (13th century), from Latin indigentia, from indigentem, form of indigēre (“to need”), from indu (“in, within”) + egēre (“be in need, want”). Only relation to antonym affluence is common Latinate suffix + -ence.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: бедност (bednost) — poverty
  • Bulgarian: сиромашия (siromašija) — poverty
  • Dutch: behoeftigheid — poverty
  • Finnish: varattomuus — poverty
  • French: indigence — poverty
  • Greek: πενία (penía) — poverty
  • Greek: ένδεια (éndeia) — poverty
  • Italian: indigenza — poverty
  • Latin: indigentia — poverty
  • Portuguese: indigência — poverty
  • Russian: бе́дность (bédnostʹ) — poverty
  • Russian: нужда́ (nuždá) — poverty
  • Spanish: indigencia — poverty
  • Spanish: inopia — poverty
  • Swahili: ufukara — poverty
  • Turkish: fukaralık — poverty
  • Turkish: yoksulluk — poverty
  • Ottoman Turkish: یوقسوللق (yoksulluk) — poverty
  • Ukrainian: біднота́ (bidnotá) — poverty