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Poors is an archaic or less common plural form referring to people who are financially impoverished. In modern usage, the term the poor is standard. The word poor derives from Old English pauper and from Latin pauper; the plural poors is rarely used outside historical texts.

Historically, the poor were subject to legal regimes designed to provide aid and regulate behavior, notably the English Poor Laws beginning in the 16th century, culminating in the 1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor. These frameworks distinguished between the deserving and undeserving poor, and many communities relied on parish relief, workhouses, or outdoor relief.

In contemporary discourse, poverty is defined and measured through indicators such as income, consumption, and access to essential services. Absolute poverty refers to a fixed standard, while relative poverty assesses deprivation relative to a society's standards. Policy approaches include cash transfers, universal or targeted benefits, subsidies for housing and energy, and programs aimed at education, health, and employment.

Demographics of poverty vary by country; poverty often concentrates among children, the elderly, disabled individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and marginalized groups, often intersecting with geography and employment conditions. Stigmatizing language can obscure structural causes; many advocates emphasize more precise, rights-based language and comprehensive social safety nets.

Modern usage emphasizes dignity and policy-oriented framing, attributing poverty to structural factors such as inequality, changes in the labor market, and inadequate public services rather than individual failings.