Legal Definitions - destitute

Definition: Deprived; bereft. Not possessing the necessaries of life; lacking possessions and resources; indigent.

• After losing his job, John was left destitute and unable to pay his rent.
• The hurricane left many families destitute, with no homes or belongings.
• She was so destitute that she had to beg for food on the streets.

These examples illustrate how destitute refers to a state of extreme poverty and lack of resources. In each example, the person or group described is lacking basic necessities such as shelter, food, and money. This can be due to a variety of circumstances, such as job loss, natural disasters, or systemic inequality.