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# in reduced circumstances

phrase (prepositional phrase: live in reduced circumstances)

«in reduced circumstances» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, old-fashioned, mainly UK) poorer than before; having lost most of one's money.

### In the lessons

Used to talk about people (often once well-off) who have become poor, in a way that protects their pride; common in older novels and formal writing. Register: old-fashioned, polite, literary; mainly UK and Ireland.

### Examples

- After the bank failed, the family lived in reduced circumstances.
- The old countess was now in reduced circumstances and sold her paintings.
- In the story, the widow lives in reduced circumstances in a small cottage.
- Gran said the neighbours were «in reduced circumstances», which meant they were broke.
- Chat: «reduced circumstances» = lost all their money
- He wrote that he had been left in reduced circumstances by the war.

### Note

It is about money, not a smaller house size or being reduced in height. It sounds formal, even a bit snobbish. Plain words: poorer than before.