Lacking money, education, or opportunities compared to most people; in an unfavorable position.
From prefix 'dis-' (opposite) plus 'advantage' (from Old French 'avantage'). The term became common in the 1960s to describe socioeconomic inequality.
The term 'disadvantaged' is interesting because it assumes an unspoken 'advantage' that others have—it's a relative measurement that only makes sense when comparing groups, which is why it's so prevalent in studies of inequality.
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