scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sə-tē 

-stē

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce

especially : want of provisions for the support of life

Synonyms

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• deficit
• drought
• drouth
• failure
• famine
• inadequacy
• inadequateness
• insufficiency
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of scarcity in a Sentence

Scarcity of food forced the herds to move.

the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising

Recent Examples on the Web

As the digital world expands, the need to verify authenticity and scarcity online has never been more critical. —Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

As energy scarcity disappears, communities and nations that have been disadvantaged by geography or lack of resources can become energy-independent, reducing geopolitical tensions and fostering global stability. —Vivek Wadhwa, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2024

To my surprise, industry experts are genuinely clamoring for some semblance of change to the current race to the bottom, mainly because there will come a time when extracting new materials will become expensive due to scarcity. —Izzie Ramirez, Vox, 9 Sep. 2024

There is a lack of concrete information presented to the public in regards to the water issue, and the residents of our District want to understand how water scarcity may affect their lives in the years to come. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē 

ˈskar-

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply