poverty line

noun

: a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards

called also poverty level

Examples of poverty line 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 largest share of applicants, 37%, had a household income of less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty line, which is $64,300 for a family of four, according to 2025 federal guidelines. Lina Ruiz april 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026 The City Council's budget proposal includes free fares for people making 150% under the federal poverty line, which Pearce said is about $24,000/year for a single person. Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 Council leadership announced that an expansion of the city’s Fair Fares program — which, in its current iteration, gives half-off transit fares to any New Yorker making less than 150% the federal poverty line — will be among the body’s main goals in 2026. Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026 Extremely low-income renters are defined as renter households where income falls at or below the federal poverty line, or 30% of the area median income. Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poverty line

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poverty line was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poverty line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty%20line. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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