destitutedes‧ti‧tute /ˈdestɪtjuːt $ -tuːt/ adjective 
The floods left many people destitute.► see thesaurus at poor2be destitute of something literary to be completely without something: a man who is destitute of mercy—destitution /ˌdestɪˈtjuːʃən $ -ˈtuː-/ noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINdestitute
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere ‘to set down, leave’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- In 1860 Father Murphy set up a home for orphans and destitute children.
- The floods left many people destitute.
- The rest of her family all died in a smallpox epidemic, leaving her destitute.
- But when they first meet, as children, she is a destitute peasant girl called Firecrackers.
- Everywhere he went, people were destitute, and all of those people offered him something to eat.
- Meanwhile his Society's inefficiency left him destitute.
- Six years before, she had shocked her family and class by marrying a destitute Berkeley law student.
- The first was from a destitute young woman about to be evicted and threatening to gas her four children, then herself.
THESAURUS
having very little money and not many possessions – used about people or places: · Many families were too poor to pay for education.· poor countries
(also skint British English) [not before noun] informal having very little money, especially for a short period of time. Skint is more informal than the other words: · I’m a bit hard up at the moment· We were so broke we couldn’t afford to go out to the cinema.
[only before noun] a developing country is poor and has very little industry: · The disease is found mainly in developing countries.· the developing world
[usually before noun] much poorer than other people in a country, and not having the things that are necessary for a comfortable or happy life – used about people and areas: · The charity works with deprived children in the inner city.· one of the most deprived areas of London
especially written used about groups of people in society who have much less chance of being successful because they are poor: · An increase in the minimum wage would help the most disadvantaged Americans.
having very little money, and so needing help – used about groups of people: · More help should be given to needy families.· We offer scholarships for needy students.
especially written having no money or possessions and nowhere to live – used when someone is in a very bad situation: · Her family was left destitute after her father died.· destitute refugees
formal impoverished people and places are very poor: · out-of-work miners and their impoverished families· The children come from impoverished neighbourhoods.· one of the world’s most impoverished countries
written extremely poor: · poverty-stricken areas· They were left poverty-stricken.
especially literary having no money: · She died penniless.· a penniless student
Longman Language Activatorhaving very little money · They were so poor they couldn't afford to buy shoes for their children.· She was born in a poor district of Chicago in 1925.· People who live in poor countries have a much lower life expectancy.· These cuts will hit the poorest members of society.· Some Democrats believed they lost the election because many poor women didn't turn out to vote.dirt poor American (=extremely poor) · Her mother grew up dirt poor among migrant workers in Alabama.
having less money than most other people: · She was quite badly off for a while after her husband died.· We were pretty poor, but most of our friends were even worse off.· No matter how badly off we were, we never went to bed hungry.
needy people or people who are in need do not have enough money to buy food, clothes etc, and deserve help: · The fund was established to help needy widows whose husbands had died in the war.· More aid should be given to needy families.· All profits from the concert will go to help children in need.
formal very poor - use this especially about people or places that were not poor in the past: · His family became so impoverished they were forced to sell the farm.· All there was in the region was dry soil and impoverished villages.
written extremely poor, and suffering as a result of this: · At the moment, many poverty-stricken communities are experiencing a shortage of teachers.· His photographs show vividly the lives of poverty-stricken families in the Gorbals area of Glasgow.
especially written having no money or possessions, and often nowhere to live, especially when there seems to be no possibility of improving the situation: · In 1860 Father Murphy set up a home for orphans and destitute children.· The rest of her family all died in a smallpox epidemic, leaving her destitute.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The floods left many people destitute.
The floods left many people destitute.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1having no money, no food, no home etc: - a man destitute of compassion
The floods left many people destitute.► see thesaurus at poor2be destitute of something literary to be completely without something: a man who is destitute of mercy—destitution /ˌdestɪˈtjuːʃən $ -ˈtuː-/ noun [uncountable]