penniless
gb/pˈɛniləs/ us/pˈɛniləs/
B2
English
pénztelen, nincstelen
B2
1
pénztelen
B2
nincstelen
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is/was penniless
He arrived in the city penniless, with nothing but a backpack.
Egy fillér nélkül érkezett a városba, nem volt nála más, csak egy hátizsák.
After paying the medical bills, she was nearly penniless.
Az orvosi számlák kifizetése után szinte teljesen pénztelen maradt.
The charity provides meals for penniless families.
Learner examples
I was penniless after I lost my wallet.
Miután elvesztettem a pénztárcámat, egy fillérem sem maradt.
He came to the country penniless.
Pénztelenül jött az országba.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse it with "pennyless" (incorrect spelling) or use it for "not expensive" (it means the person has no money).
Meaning
having no money at all
Collocations
left penniless
|virtually penniless
|completely penniless
|suddenly penniless
|penniless student
|penniless immigrant
|penniless and homeless
|end up penniless
|die penniless
|penniless after [event]
Synonyms
broke (More informal; often temporary.)
|
destitute (Stronger; suggests extreme poverty and hardship.)
|
impoverished (More formal; often about long-term poverty.)
|
poor (More general and less emphatic.)
Antonyms
wealthy (Having a lot of money and assets.)
|
well-off (Comfortably having enough money.)
|
affluent (Having a lot of money; often formal.)
Themes
money
|daily_life
|society
Definition
having no money
Having no money; extremely poor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
penniless
IPA
GB/pˈɛniləs/
US/pˈɛniləs/
Syllables & stress
pen - ni - less (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: penniless
Word family
Core family
penny
noun A2
Expressions
die penniless
1/dˈaɪ pˈɛniləs/
fixed phrase
die with no money
to die with no money
Examples
- Despite his fame, he died penniless.
- The artist died penniless, and his work became valuable later.
- Some people fear they will die penniless without a pension.
Learner examples
- He died penniless.
end up penniless
1/ˈɛnd ˈʌp pˈɛniləs/
fixed phrase
become penniless in the end
to become penniless later
Examples
- He spent recklessly and ended up penniless.
- Many athletes end up penniless a few years after retiring.
- If you keep lending money, you could end up penniless.
Learner examples
- He ended up penniless.
leave [someone] penniless
1/lˈiv sˈʌmwˌʌn pˈɛniləs/
fixed phrase
cause someone to have no money
to make someone have no money
Examples
- The scam left him penniless.
- A long illness can leave a family penniless without insurance.
- She was left penniless after the theft.
Learner examples
- The robbery left him penniless.
penniless and homeless
1/pˈɛniləs ˈænd hˈoʊmləs/
fixed phrase
without money or a home
without money and without a home
Examples
- After the fire, the family was penniless and homeless.
- He arrived penniless and homeless, looking for help.
- The program supports people who are penniless and homeless.
Learner examples
- They were penniless and homeless.