Impecunious

Impecunious is an adjective used to describe someone who is very poor or penniless. It originates from the Latin word "impecuniosus," which is derived from "in-" meaning "without" and "pecunia" meaning "money." The term implies a state of lacking financial resources, often suggesting a persistent or habitual lack of money rather than a temporary shortage.

While it directly refers to a lack of funds, impecunious can also carry connotations of a certain social standing or lifestyle associated with poverty. It is not typically used to describe a temporary financial setback but rather a more established condition of being without money. The word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is often found in literature or more formal discourse to convey a sense of destitution or straitened circumstances. For example, a character in a novel might be described as impecunious if they are struggling to afford basic necessities. The opposite of impecunious would be wealthy or affluent.