1. the state of being indigent; extreme poverty or destitution.
Usage: formal; often used in legal or social welfare contexts

Examples

• The social worker assessed the family's indigency to determine their eligibility for assistance.
• Indigency is a major factor in determining access to public legal services.
• The organization provides food and shelter to those living in indigency.
• Economic downturns can push families from stability into indigency.
• Courts often waive filing fees for individuals who can demonstrate indigency.
• The government's antipoverty programs aim to reduce indigency in rural areas.