penniless
gb/pˈɛniləs/ us/pˈɛniləs/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
having no money at all
having no money
Usage pattern:
[someone] is/was penniless
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse it with "pennyless" (incorrect spelling) or use it for "not expensive" (it means the person has no money).
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.)
Collocations
left penniless
|virtually penniless
|completely penniless
|suddenly penniless
|penniless student
|penniless immigrant
|penniless and homeless
|end up penniless
|die penniless
|penniless after [event]
Themes
money
|daily_life
|society
Examples
- He arrived in the city penniless, with nothing but a backpack.
- After paying the medical bills, she was nearly penniless.
- The charity provides meals for penniless families.
Learner examples
- I was penniless after I lost my wallet.
- He came to the country penniless.
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.
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.
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.
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.