disadvantaged

adjective

dis·​ad·​van·​taged ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tijd How to pronounce disadvantaged (audio)
: lacking in the basic resources or conditions (such as standard housing, medical and educational facilities, and civil rights) believed to be necessary for an equal position in society
disadvantagedness noun

Examples of disadvantaged in a Sentence

The program provides aid for economically disadvantaged groups. disadvantaged families struggling to get by will be benefited by changes in the tax code
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.
State, local, and tribal agencies also play a critical role in monitoring air quality, such as New York’s Community Air Monitoring Initiative, which tracked pollution for a year using mobile monitoring in 10 disadvantaged communities with high air pollution burdens. ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025 Private school scholarships not ‘for disadvantaged families’ Republican leaders have consistently pitched a statewide school choice program as an opportunity to empower families without financial means to get their children out of failing schools. Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Some activists believe a place like the youth center, including its school, is just another part of a pipeline from schools to prison, a mechanism that keeps disadvantaged youth trapped in the criminal justice system, and that incarcerating youth should be avoided all together. Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 However, gaps persisted between the performance of economically disadvantaged and minority students compared with their statewide peers. Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disadvantaged

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disadvantaged was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disadvantaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disadvantaged. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!