destitution
noun C2
Plain meaning
extreme poverty where people lack basic things like food, shelter, and safety
Exam-register meaning
a condition of severe material deprivation and absence of basic resources
In context
naturalThe floods pushed many families into destitution.
examThe report links prolonged conflict with rising destitution among displaced communities.
Common collocations
extreme destitutionfall into destitutionescape destitution
Watch out
Destitution is stronger than poverty; use it only for very severe deprivation.
Word family
destitute (adjective)destitutely (adverb, rare)