1
old-fashioned
: a person destitute of means except such as are derived from charity
specifically
: one who receives aid from funds designated for the poor
2
old-fashioned
: a very poor person
… you'll wind up a pauper on skid row …—
Robert Bixby
Robert BixbyExamples of pauper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Gold not glittering As for gold, while the yellow metal has traditionally been sought out by kings and paupers throughout history alike, the anaemic gold price has puzzled experts.
—
Lim Hui Jie,lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
Bournemouth are not a pauper club any more, but the performance this season has still be remarkable.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
The Titanic is still a subject of worldwide fascination, in part because of the range of passengers aboard the ship, from paupers to plutocrats.
—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
The Titanic is still a subject of worldwide fascination, in part because of the range of passengers aboard the ship, from paupers to plutocrats.
—
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pauper
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Lim Hui Jie,lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
Bournemouth are not a pauper club any more, but the performance this season has still be remarkable.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
The Titanic is still a subject of worldwide fascination, in part because of the range of passengers aboard the ship, from paupers to plutocrats.
—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
The Titanic is still a subject of worldwide fascination, in part because of the range of passengers aboard the ship, from paupers to plutocrats.
—
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pauper
Cite this Entry
“Pauper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pauper. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pauper
noun
pau·per
ˈpȯ-pər 
: a very poor person
especially
: one supported by charity
pauperize
verb
-ˌrīz
Legal Definition
pauper
noun
pau·per
ˈpȯ-pər
: a person who is destitute and relying on charity
specifically
: a person who is relieved of the costs and expenses of a court proceeding because of poverty
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