impecunious

IPA/ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːniəs/
IPA/ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːniəs/

impecunious — adjective

  • impecuniouspositive
  • more impecuniouscomparative
  • most impecunioussuperlative

1. A person described as impecunious has hardly any money, often for an extended pe

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

A person described as impecunious has hardly any money, often for an extended period rather than as a temporary shortage.

Example

Yumi, an impecunious artist in Osaka, could afford only one meal each day.

collocation: impecunious + profession (artist / student / writer)

The library waived late fees for impecunious readers who could not pay.

formal register: institutional use (library policy)

Common collocations
  • impecunious artist
  • impecunious student
  • impecunious family
  • impecunious circumstances
  • impecunious state
  • impecunious immigrant
Synonyms
  • penniless

    more dramatic and immediate; suggests having no money at all at this moment

  • impoverished

    broader and more clinical; can describe regions or populations, not just individuals

  • destitute

    stronger; implies lacking even basic necessities such as food and shelter

  • broke

    informal register; usually refers to temporary lack of spending money

Antonyms
  • wealthy

    general opposite; having abundant money or assets

  • affluent

    formal opposite; having plenty of money, comfortable lifestyle

Grammar Patterns

impecunious + noun

be + impecunious

Usage Note

Tends to describe a chronic or habitual lack of means, not a one-time cash shortage. Frequently used in formal writing, journalism, or literary contexts.

Common Mistakes

I am impecunious this week because I spent too much on shopping.
The retired teacher lived an impecunious life after her pension ran out.
'impecunious' implies a long-term state, not a temporary lack of cash.

Word family

  • impecuniously
    adverbC2
  • impecuniousness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Impecunious is the most formal of these terms, often describing a chronic lack of money in a literary or detached tone — a person or group may be impecunious without being in immediate crisis. Penniless is more direct and dramatic, suggesting that someone literally has no money at this moment. Destitute is the strongest: it implies lacking even the basic necessities of food, shelter, and clothing. Impoverished is a broader, more clinical word that can describe individuals, regions, or entire populations, often due to systemic economic forces. Broke is informal and conversational, usually about a short-term lack of spending money. For example: 'The impecunious scholar could not afford new books' (formal, chronic) versus 'The student was broke after paying tuition' (informal, temporary).

impecunious ↗penniless ↗destitute ↗impoverished ↗broke ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in impecunious circumstances

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'im-' (not) and 'pecuniosus' (wealthy, rich), which comes from 'pecunia' (money, property). The root 'pecu' means cattle — in ancient Rome, a person's wealth was measured by how many cattle they owned.

First known use

1596

1596, in the meaning defined above