Poverty

How it is used

Sociologists distinguish absolute poverty, a lack of what is needed to survive, from relative poverty, which is measured against the usual living standards of a society. Other common phrases are poverty line, child poverty, in-work poverty and the cycle of poverty.

Example sentences

1. Relative poverty is often defined as living on less than 60 per cent of median household income.

2. Townsend argued that poverty means being unable to take part in activities most people take for granted.

Common collocations

• absolute poverty
• relative poverty
• poverty line
• child poverty
• live in poverty

Related terms

• inequalityUnequal access to resources, opportunities, rights and rewards, such as income, education, health or power, between individuals or groups.
• social exclusionA situation in which individuals or groups are shut out from full participation in society, such as work, education, housing, services or political life.
• social classA large group of people who share a similar economic position, such as income, wealth, occupation and education, and often similar life chances.
• socioeconomic status (SES)A person's or family's position in society measured by a combination of income, education and occupation.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• poverty · Social Work

More terms: Class, Stratification and Inequality

• social stratification
• social mobility
• bourgeoisie
• proletariat
• working class
• middle class
• cultural capital
• social capital
• intersectionality