undeserving poor

English

Noun

undeserving poor pl (plural only)

1. (dated) Poor people who ought to be able to provide for themselves but are too lazy to do so, and thus seen as not worthy of charity.

   Antonym: deserving poor

Usage notes

Used with the definite article the.

References

• “undeserving poor”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “undeserving poor”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.