What term refers to someone who is poor or needy?

The term "indigent" specifically refers to individuals who are in a state of poverty and lacking the means to provide for themselves, often highlighting their circumstance of need. This word comes from a legal context and is commonly used in discussions of social services or assistance programs, underscoring the idea of destitution and the urgent necessity for help.

While "impoverished," "struggling," and "wretched" can relate to poverty or hardship, they carry different connotations. "Impoverished" describes a state of having been made poor, which can imply a historical context or a process rather than a current state of being. "Struggling" implies an ongoing fight against difficulties, but it doesn't exclusively indicate financial need; it can refer to various challenges in life. "Wretched" typically conveys extreme misery or unhappiness and is not solely focused on economic conditions, extending instead to emotional or physical suffering. Thus, "indigent" most accurately encapsulates the idea of being poor or needy in a direct and specific manner.