- [uncountable] the state of being poor
- conditions of extreme/abject poverty
- to alleviate poverty
- in poverty Many elderly people live in poverty.
- For him music was the way out of poverty.
- She was born into poverty and political chaos.
- More than 1.5 million Americans fell into poverty last year.
- The government is aiming to reduce child poverty (= the number of children living below the poverty line).
- to tackle/combat/fight poverty
- to escape/flee poverty
Collocations International relationsInternational relationsTradesee also fuel poverty- facilitate/regulate trade (with other countries)
- form/join a trading bloc
- live in/compete in a global/the world economy
- support/promote free trade
- adopt/call for/oppose protectionist measures
- erect/impose/reduce/remove trade barriers
- impose/lift/raise/eliminate import tariffs (on something)
- have/run a huge/large/growing trade surplus/deficit
- embrace/resist/drive globalization
- conduct/handle/talk about/discuss foreign policy
- pursue an aggressive/a hawkish foreign policy
- require/use/conduct diplomacy
- establish/break off/sever/restore diplomatic relations
- foster/promote/strengthen regional cooperation
- facilitate/achieve economic/political integration
- exercise/defend/protect/transfer/restore/regain national/state/full/limited sovereignty
- consolidate/extend/lose/retain your power (in the region)
- hold/maintain/change/alter/shift/be a shift in the balance of power (in the region)
- cause/create/open/expose/heal/repair a deep/growing/major/serious rift between X and Y
- have/hold/host/attend an international conference/an economic forum/a summit meeting
- launch a new round of global/multilateral/world trade negotiations
- send/head/lead/meet a high-level/an official/a trade delegation
- begin/start/continue/resume peace talks
- be committed to/be opposed to/disrupt/undermine/derail/sabotage the peace process
- negotiate/achieve a lasting political settlement
- broker/sign a peace deal/agreement/treaty
- be/constitute/pose a threat to global security
- compromise/endanger/protect national security
- justify/be in favour of/ (US English) be in favor of/be against military intervention
- threaten/authorize/launch/take/support/oppose unilateral/pre-emptive military action
- impose/enforce/lift/end economic sanctions/an arms embargo/a naval blockade
- close/protect/secure/patrol the border
- lead/be involved in a peacekeeping operation
- negotiate/announce a $15 billion aid package/an economic stimulus package
- send/provide/request/cut off military aid
- bring/provide emergency/humanitarian relief
- deliver/distribute medical supplies/(British English) food parcels/(North American English)food packages
- fund/run a foreign/a local/an international NGO
- reduce/eradicate child/global/world poverty
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb1, Social issuesb1- Most of the population lives in grinding poverty.
- a plan to eradicate urban poverty
- Land reform would help to alleviate rural poverty.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- abject
- absolute
- extreme
- …
- alleviate
- combat
- fight
- …
- trap
- rate
- reduction
- …
- in poverty
- poverty among
- poverty of
- …
- above/below/under the poverty level
- above/below/under the poverty line
- at the poverty level
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [uncountable, singular] a lack of something; poor quality
- There is a poverty of colour in her work.
- His work displays a poverty of imagination.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French poverte, from Latin paupertas, from pauper ‘poor’.
Check pronunciation:
poverty