poor relation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bayswater was long considered the poor relation of its ultradesirable London neighbors Notting Hill and Marylebone, but new development is driving up home prices in the area.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Though it can seem the poor relation of “real” television, the game show has a long history with the medium.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2023

The chairwoman of the CCC adaptation committee, Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, said work on adapting to changes in the climate was the "poor relation" of the net zero targets feted by governments.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2022

Diagnostics has been the poor relation to drugs and vaccines for years, as governments are now realising to their cost.

From The Guardian • May 1, 2020

Eunice Trevor had played the part of poor relation all her life, and the bread of dependence is both a dry and a bitter morsel in the mouth.

From In Jeopardy by Sutphen, Van Tassel