Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

indigence

/ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.57 in modern English

Syllables: in-di-gence
IPA: /ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Extreme poverty or destitution.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"On Professor Solanka’s street, well-heeled white youths lounged in baggy garments on roseate stoops, stylishly simulating indigence while they waited for the billionairedom that would surely be along sometime soon."

Etymology

From Middle English indigence, late 14th century, from Old French indigence (13th century), from Latin indigentia, from indigentem, form of indigēre (“to need”), from indu (“in, within”) + egēre (“be in need, want”). Only relation to antonym affluence is common Latinate suffix + -ence.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *h₁eg-, indigence, indigentia
Suffix: ence

Usage

Inflected Forms

indigences (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

indigent

Synonyms

indigency need penury pauperism pauperization

Antonyms

affluence

Questions

How do you pronounce indigence?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/.
What does indigence mean?: Extreme poverty or destitution.
Where does indigence come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce indigence

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “indigence”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “indigence”.
Repeat and practice — Say “indigence” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.