poor / poŏr; pôr/ • adj. 1. lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society: people who were too poor to afford a telephone | [as n.] (the poor) the gap between the rich and the poor has widened. ∎  (of a place) inhabited by people without sufficient money: a poor area with run-down movie theaters and overcrowded schools.2. worse than is usual, expected, or desirable; of a low or inferior standard or quality: her work was poor many people are eating a very poor diet. ∎  (poor in) deficient or lacking in: the water is poor in nutrients. ∎ dated used ironically to deprecate something belonging to or offered by oneself: he is, in my poor opinion, a more handsome young man.3. (of a person) considered to be deserving of pity or sympathy: they inquired after poor Dorothy's broken hip.PHRASES: (as) poor as a church mouse (or as church mice) extremely poor.poor little rich boy (or girl) a wealthy young person whose money brings them no contentment (often used as an expression of mock sympathy).the poor man's —— an inferior or cheaper substitute for the thing specified: corduroy has always been the poor man's velvet.poor relation a person or thing that is considered inferior or subordinate to others of the same type or group: for many years radio has been the poor relation of the media.take a poor view of regard with disfavor or disapproval.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French poure, from Latin pauper.