Phrase guide

poverty trap

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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A self-reinforcing cycle which allows poverty to persist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: generational wealth

2

noun

Meaning 2

a situation in which an increase in income results in a loss of benefits so that you are no better off

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: situation, position

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 貧困陷阱 /贫困陷阱 (pínkùn xiànjǐng) — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Finnish: köyhyysloukku — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • German: Armutsfalle — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Greek: παγίδα της φτώχιας (pagída tis ftóchias) — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Polish: błędne koło ubóstwa — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Portuguese: ciclo da pobreza — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Russian: лову́шка бе́дности (lovúška bédnosti) — cycle which allows poverty to persist
  • Russian: лову́шка нищеты́ (lovúška niščetý) — cycle which allows poverty to persist