the poverty line

noun

: the level of income that makes it possible for a person to pay for basic food, clothing, and shelter
families living below/at the poverty line

Examples of the poverty line in a Sentence

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New Yorkers living below the poverty line, African-American, Latinos, LGBTQ individuals, and those suffering mental health disorders are all more likely to smoke cigarettes. Edgar Domenech, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025 One in five Fairhaven residents lives below the poverty line, according to the latest Census data. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2025 Other counties limit eligibility to 185% of the poverty line, or about $49,000 for a family of three. Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025 Growing up in a house where both of her parents’ income was below the poverty line, Katherine’s success was far from predetermined, and her focus was split between her growth and caring for her siblings. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the poverty line

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Cite this Entry

“The poverty line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20poverty%20line. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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