low-income
low-income — adjective
1. earning far below the average income in a country or region, often at or under t
earning far below the average income in a country or region, often at or under the official poverty level.
The Minh family qualified for free school meals because they were low-income.
predicative use: be low-income
Devika grew up in a low-income household but later became a successful nurse.
attributive: low-income + household
The Okpara family in Manchester struggled to pay rent because they lived in a low-income neighbourhood.
California offers tax credits to low-income workers who care for young children.
Although Noor's parents were low-income, they always set aside money for her education.
- poor
broader and more emotive; implies lack of basic necessities, not just low earnings
- disadvantaged
includes other barriers beyond income, such as education or location
- underprivileged
suggests a lack of social opportunities and advantages
- high-income
direct opposite in terms of earnings level
- wealthy
implies significant assets and financial comfort, not just high earnings
文法句型
low-income + noun (family, household, worker)
be low-income (predicative)
用法筆記
Frequently used in official policy language and social statistics. As a predicate it sounds slightly formal — in everyday speech people often say 'don't earn much' instead of 'are low-income'.
常見錯誤
2. designed for or offered to people who have little money.
designed for or offered to people who have little money.
The city built low-income apartments near the new train station for essential workers.
collocation: low-income apartments
Tara works at a low-income health clinic that charges patients according to what they can pay.
relative clause after low-income noun
This part of town is a low-income area with very few supermarkets or banks.
The local government provides low-income housing for elderly people on small pensions.
Vinícius volunteers at a low-income daycare centre that looks after children while their parents work.
- subsidised
focuses on government or organisational financial support; narrower than low-income
- affordable
emphasises price rather than the income profile of the users
- assisted
suggests some form of help (housing, healthcare) is provided
- market-rate
opposite of subsidised housing — priced at full market value
- affluent
describes wealthy areas, the opposite of low-income neighbourhoods
文法句型
low-income + noun (housing, area, country, clinic)
用法筆記
Not used for products that are merely cheap — a restaurant serving inexpensive food is 'affordable' or 'budget', not 'low-income'. Used mainly for public services, housing programmes, and statistical descriptions of areas.