less fortunate
36
3.3
- noun
:
personas desfavorecidas
- And you can always turn your attention to helping those less fortunate than yourself.
- help the less fortunate
- less fortunate people
- less fortunate in society
But the point is that I was taught that you have to help the less fortunate and never get found out.
- But the point is that I was taught that you have to help the less fortunate and never get found out.
Examples
-
"I think we should use part of it to help others less fortunate."
Fiction book (1996) -
At St. Bartholomew's, we have a culture of supporting those less fortunate than us.
-
Give to the less fortunate.
-
One of them said, "My dear, we like to do this for those less fortunate."
Fiction book (1990) -
You and your wife, in your spare time, work with the less fortunate.
Fiction book (1990) -
I mean, the mark of civilization is how we treat those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
-
Have compassion on those less fortunate than you.
-
And that's why my Gala for Goodness will raise all the money needed for those less fortunate.
-
Later tonight, Mayor Grimbaum will spend several hours volunteering in the Metro City Homeless Shelter, serving dinner to the less fortunate.
-
It's important to donate to help the less fortunate in our community.
Synonyms
∞
7.3
A person who has little money and few things
194
1.3
People who have little money or possessions
141
1.0
People who have little money and few things
34
3.7
People who do not have enough money, support, or chances to do well
24
4.4
People who have less money, chances, or help than others
20
6.6
People who are treated badly by those with power
20
6.5
Very poor and without basic things like food or a home
19
5.5
A group of people at the bottom of society who are poor and have few chances to improve their lives
14
2.7
People with little money, education, or power in society
9
5.1
Very poor and needing help to live
1
7.0
People who have little money and low social status
Antonyms
How Well Off
Surface Forms
Morphology
less + fortunate
The meaning 'people who are not as lucky or privileged' is directly compositional from 'less' (comparative) + 'fortunate' (having good luck or advantages), so the sense of reduced fortune is immediately inferable. This comparative construction is common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'menos afortunados', French 'moins fortunés'), making it readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
Less fortunate is a polite way to say someone has had less luck or less money. The word fortunate means 'lucky', so adding less gives the image of someone with fewer chances or resources, and that's why the phrase is used today to mean 'poor' or needing help.