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Glite Dictionary
previously disadvantaged

previously disadvantaged

5.7
A person who has had less money and fewer chances in the past because people treated them unfairly
  • adjective
  • South African
translation icon : anteriormente desfavorecido
  • The freedom to choose the medium of instruction (n100) was very important to the parties representing the previously disadvantaged groups (n101) in reaction to the mandatory regulation during apartheid.

Examples

  • At the primary and secondary levels, nondiscriminatory access is required and protected; at the level of tertiary education, several attempts have been made to adopt a flexible and progressive method to facilitate access for students from previously disadvantaged communities.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Efforts to uplift previously disadvantaged communities have gained momentum in recent years.

  • The government launched a program to support businesses owned by previously disadvantaged individuals.

  • Many scholarships are now available for students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

Synonyms

less fortunate
vspreviously disadvantaged
36 3.3

People who have little money or few chances

emphasizes earlier experience of unequal treatment due to systemic discrimination
disadvantaged
vspreviously disadvantaged
34 3.7

People who do not have enough money, support, or chances to do well

experienced such lack in the past due to systemic discrimination
underprivileged
vspreviously disadvantaged
24 4.4

People who have less money, chances, or help than others

refers to people who had those lacks in the past because of systemic inequality
underserved
vspreviously disadvantaged
14 4.8

Not getting enough help with health or school

refers to having faced social or economic harm in the past from systemic inequality

Antonyms

privileged
123 4.8

Having special rights or advantages that others do not have

advantaged
3 3.7

In a better position with more benefits and chances than others

How Disadvantaged

destitute
20 6.5
impoverished
50 6.2
previously disadvantaged
  • South African
5.7
vulnerable
581 4.0

Surface Forms

previously disadvantaged positive

Morphology

previously + disadvantaged

The meaning 'having experienced social or economic disadvantage in the past' is directly and compositionally derived from 'previously' (earlier) + 'disadvantaged' (lacking resources/opportunities). This modifier + adjective pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Previously disadvantaged creates a clear picture: imagine a race where some runners started late or had heavy bags, so they were behind the others. Those people were disadvantaged before, so they are called previously disadvantaged. So the term means people who 'in the past' had social or money disadvantages and may now get extra support.