View synonyms for

down-and-out

[doun-uhnd-out, -uhn]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

without any money, or means of support, or prospects; destitute; penniless.
without physical strength or stamina; disabled; incapacitated.
too physically weakened by repeated defeats to qualify as a competent professional boxer.

noun

Also down-and-outer. a person who is down-and-out.

down-and-out

adjective

without any means of livelihood; impoverished and, often, socially outcast

noun

a person who is destitute and, often, homeless; a social outcast or derelict

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Word History and Origins

Origin of down-and-out¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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Idioms and Phrases

Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless. For example, After losing his job, car, and home, he was completely down and out. This term probably originated in boxing, where it alludes to the fighter who is knocked down and stays down for a given time, thereby losing the bout. [c. 1900] Also see down for the count.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In her 2024 book “Stolen Pride,” one down-and-out Kentucky man summed it up, asking, “If it’s such a privilege to be born a white male, what could explain me except my own personal failure?”

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"These are a group of elderly down-and-out thieves, they're always broke, they're forever involved in convoluted plans… and they're facing a huge celebrity and they don't even know who she is."

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That was like a complete down-and-out crying moment, and we just didn’t really know what was next.

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Housing space was now just for patients, not simply down-and-out veterans.

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After back-to-back losses to good teams, the Commanders take out their frustrations on the down-and-out Cowboys.

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down-and-dirty down-at-the-heels

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