pauper

noun

pau·​per ˈpȯ-pər How to pronounce pauper (audio)
1
: a person destitute of means except such as are derived from charity
specifically : one who receives aid from funds designated for the poor
paupers on welfare
2
: a very poor person
pauperism noun

Examples of pauper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The time-traveler received terrible, albeit false, news in Episode 6: A midwife who’d been paid to lie informed him that Julia and their baby had died during childbirth, their bodies thrown in a pauper’s grave. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025 The woman shares that Julia was buried in an unmarked grave as a pauper. Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2025 The county is required by law to continue its deceased pauper program, which is being transferred to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025 Alvarez is the pauper of the group, with Judge and Soto combining for $1.125 billion in salary over the lives of their contracts. C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pauper

Word History

Etymology

Latin, poor — more at poor

First Known Use

1516, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pauper was in 1516

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pauper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pauper. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

pauper

noun
pau·​per ˈpȯ-pər How to pronounce pauper (audio)
: a very poor person
especially : one supported by charity
pauperism noun
pauperize
-ˌrīz
verb

Legal Definition

pauper

noun
pau·​per ˈpȯ-pər How to pronounce pauper (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pauper

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