underprivileged Hear it!

underprivileged Definition

under·privi·leged (un′dər priv′ə lijd, -priv′lijd)

adjective

deprived of a decent standard of living, adequate education, and economic security through poverty, discrimination, etc.

underprivileged Idioms

the underprivileged

those who are underprivileged

underprivileged Synonyms

underprivileged

modif.

poor, indigent, disadvantaged, deprived, unfortunate, impoverished, needy, destitute, educationally handicapped; see also poor 1.

underprivileged Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • kid: I'm the man who helps out with 36 different colleges for underprivileged kids.
  • child: It plans a vacation project each year during which students host day trips for underprivileged children.
  • background: Health minister John Hutton today spearheaded a new drive to recruit more NHS staff from underprivileged backgrounds.
  • community: Are you thinking of becoming a professional teacher - or just want to assist or work alongside teachers in underprivileged communities abroad?
  • family: An SOS Social Center provides support programs for local underprivileged families.
  • people: A local panto star has been helping to create a magical Christmas for underprivileged people in the region.

Modifying Another Word

  • severely: If those who lived in this severely underprivileged locality were deprived of many things, they had an ample choice of licensed premises.
underprivileged Quotes

I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. They told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, I was deprived. Then they told me underprivileged was overused. I was disadvantaged. I still don't have a dime. But I have a great vocabulary.

—Feiffer,Jules