1. a homeless or neglected child who lives on the streets
Usage: often considered offensive; dated
2. a person regarded as being of low social status or poor character
Usage: derogatory; informal

Examples

• The Victorian novel depicted guttersnipes begging for food in the city streets.
• He called his opponent a guttersnipe during the heated political debate.
• The charity worked to help guttersnipes find shelter and education.
• She rose from being dismissed as a guttersnipe to becoming a successful businesswoman.
• The term guttersnipe reflects outdated attitudes toward poverty and homelessness.
• Many guttersnipes in Dickens’ stories showed remarkable resilience and courage.