disadvantaged
/ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tijd/ (ame, mw) · /ˌdɪs.ədˈvɑːn.tɪdʒd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪs.ədˈvæn.t̬ɪdʒd/ (ame, ipa)
disadvantaged — adjective
- disadvantagedpositive
- more disadvantagedcomparative
- most disadvantagedsuperlative
1. without the money, schooling, or family support that most other people in the sa
without the money, schooling, or family support that most other people in the same society can rely on, which makes it harder to do well in life.
Sora grew up in a disadvantaged neighbourhood where most houses had no hot water.
attributive: disadvantaged + place noun
The new scholarship helps disadvantaged students from rural villages pay for university.
collocation: disadvantaged students / children / youth
Children from disadvantaged families often start school behind their classmates in reading.
Vivek argued that the tax cuts left disadvantaged communities with even fewer health services.
Many of the women in the shelter come from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- underprivileged
very close in meaning; slightly more focused on lacking social privileges than on poverty itself.
- deprived
stronger and more emotive; implies serious lack of basic needs like food, housing, or care.
- marginalized
stresses being pushed to the edge of society or decision-making, not only lacking resources.
- privileged
having extra advantages such as wealth, good schools, or useful family connections.
- advantaged
direct opposite but much less common in everyday English.
文法句型
disadvantaged + noun (e.g. children, family, community, background)
be + disadvantaged
用法筆記
Almost always attributive (before a noun such as children, students, families, communities, group, background). Frequently paired with adverbs like 'socially', 'economically', 'educationally' that name the area of disadvantage.
常見錯誤
disadvantaged — noun
1. used with 'the' to talk about everyone in a society who is poor or who has fewer
used with 'the' to talk about everyone in a society who is poor or who has fewer chances in life, treated together as one group.
The new charity in Manila provides free meals and medical care for the disadvantaged.
pattern: for / to the disadvantaged (recipient)
Manuela has spent thirty years teaching reading to the disadvantaged in her city.
pattern: teach / serve the disadvantaged
The new housing policy was written specifically to help the disadvantaged find safer homes.
Mateo believes the government should do more to protect the disadvantaged during the economic crisis.
- the underprivileged
very close meaning; slightly broader sense of lacking social privileges, not only material need.
- the poor
more direct and less formal; focuses on lack of money, not on chances in life.
- the needy
focuses on needing urgent help with food, shelter, or care.
- the privileged
people with extra advantages such as wealth, education, or useful connections.
文法句型
the disadvantaged + verb (plural agreement)
help / support / serve + the disadvantaged
用法筆記
Always preceded by 'the' and treated as plural ('the disadvantaged are…', never 'a disadvantaged' or 'disadvantaged are…'). Refers to people as a whole group, not to one named individual; for one person, use 'a disadvantaged child / family / student' instead.