# poverty

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɒvəti/ · frequency rank #3,251

## Definitions
1. The quality or state of being poor; lack of money
2. A deficiency of something needed or desired

## Etymology
From Middle English poverte, from Old French poverté (Modern French pauvreté), from Latin paupertās, from pauper (“poor”) + -tas (“noun of state suffix”). Cognates include pauper, poor.

## Easily confused with
- **puberty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poverty-vs-puberty)
- **property** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poverty-vs-property)

## Common misspellings (11)
`opverty`, `poevrty`, `poverrty`, `povertty`, `povertyy`, `poveryt`, `povetry`, `povrety`, `povverty`, `ppoverty`, `pvoerty`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/poverty