underprivileged

adjective

un·​der·​priv·​i·​leged ˌən-dər-ˈpriv-lijd How to pronounce underprivileged (audio)
-ˈpri-və-
1
: deprived through social or economic condition of some of the fundamental rights of all members of a civilized society
2
: of or relating to underprivileged people
underprivileged areas of the city

Examples of underprivileged in a Sentence

an organization that distributes free books to underprivileged children
Recent Examples on the Web The money is earmarked to benefit underprivileged and at-risk kids in the state’s Collier County through the Naples Children and Education Foundation. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2024 The country legend and the Princess of Wales have both launched several hugely successful initiatives for underprivileged children. Clare Fisher, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024 There was no entrance fee, and the event featured the participation of major brands like Netflix and Warner Bros. Delgado sees the convention as not only promoting people and their creations, but also boosting underprivileged and Afro-Brazilian communities. Gabriel Leão, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2023 In Illinois, nearly 10,000 low-income, mostly black and Hispanic children, along with over 1,000 underprivileged Jewish children, among others, are dependent on the state’s tax-credit scholarship school-choice program, Invest in Kids, to attend a well-performing school. Ed Tarnowski, National Review, 9 Dec. 2023 This year, guests nominated by Lord Lieutenants across the nation are to include underprivileged children and their families as well as people who work in the early years space. Monique Jessen, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023 Apart from these educational initiatives, Saab Shares also facilitates access to free healthcare for terminally ill, underprivileged children. Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 As a National Geographic Explorer, Liza conceived and led a global capacity building initiative to increase climate literacy among underprivileged youth across developing nations. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 That you guys are providing safe options for youth in high violence and underprivileged areas. Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underprivileged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underprivileged was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near underprivileged

Cite this Entry

“Underprivileged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underprivileged. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

underprivileged

adjective
un·​der·​priv·​i·​leged -ˈpriv-(ə-)lijd How to pronounce underprivileged (audio)
: having fewer privileges than others : poor

More from Merriam-Webster on underprivileged

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!