- socially or economically deprived or discriminated against
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•ad•van•taged /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒd/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. the disadvantaged, [plural* used with a plural verb]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- lacking the necessities and comforts of life:disadvantaged families.
n. the disadvantaged, [plural* used with a plural verb]
- people who lack such necessities and comforts.
dis•ad•van•taged
(dis′əd van′tijd, -vän′-),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
dis′ad•van′taged•ness, n.
- lacking the normal or usual necessities and comforts of life, as proper housing, educational opportunities, job security, adequate medical care, etc.:The government extends help to disadvantaged minorities.
n.
- (used with a pl. v.) disadvantaged persons collectively (usually prec. by the):The Senator advocates increased funding for federal programs that aid the disadvantaged.
- disadvantage + -ed2 1930–35
- 1. poor, underprivileged, impoverished, deprived; handicapped, impaired, disabled.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
disadvantaged /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒd/ adj
dis•ad•van•tage /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable; usually singular]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- absence of advantage or equality:My years of experience at that old job actually put me at a disadvantage in this new one.
- something that puts one in an unfavorable position or condition:A bad temper is a disadvantage.
dis•ad•van•tage
(dis′əd van′tij, -vän′-),USA pronunciation n., v., -taged, -tag•ing.
n.
v.t.
n.
- absence or deprivation of advantage or equality.
- the state or an instance of being in an unfavorable circumstance or condition:to be at a disadvantage.
- something that puts one in an unfavorable position or condition:His bad temper is a disadvantage.
- injury to interest, reputation, credit, profit, etc.;
loss:Your behavior is a disadvantage to your family's good name.
v.t.
- to subject to disadvantage:I was disadvantaged by illness.
- Anglo-French; Old French desavantage. See dis-1, advantage
- Middle English disavauntage 1350–1400
- 1. drawback, inconvenience, hindrance. 4. detriment, hurt, harm, damage.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
disadvantage /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ n
- an unfavourable circumstance, state of affairs, thing, person, etc
- injury, loss, or detriment
- an unfavourable condition or situation (esp in the phrase at a disadvantage)
- (transitive) to put at a disadvantage; handicap
'disadvantaged' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):