austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē 
-ˈste-rə-,
also -ˈstir-ə-
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere: such as
a
: a stern and serious quality
the formal austerity of his manner
b
: a plain and simple quality
the austerity of the design
2
: enforced or extreme economy especially on a national scale
lived through years of austerity after the war
fiscal austerity
a series of austerity measures [=measures taken to reduce spending]
3
a
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
monastic self-denial and austerities
b
: an ascetic (see ascetic sense 1) practice
Examples of austerity in a Sentence
the austerity of the design
The austerity of their lifestyle was surprising.
They lived through years of austerity after the war.
the austerities practiced by monks
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrats have capitalized on that, wasting no time casting Musk as the unfathomably wealthy face of government austerity and corporate overreach.
—
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
While there are conflicting messages among Republican lawmakers as well as the Trump administration, Medicaid appears to be the biggest likely target of budget austerity measures.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
With its budget down £1 billion ($1.3 billion) annually in real terms compared to 15 years ago, the BBC is doubling down on digital innovation while continuing its austerity measures.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025
While the grid’s numbered fill and rigid borders may give the impression of austerity, sudoku is, at its root, a simple game of pattern recognition.
—Elie Levine, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
While there are conflicting messages among Republican lawmakers as well as the Trump administration, Medicaid appears to be the biggest likely target of budget austerity measures.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
With its budget down £1 billion ($1.3 billion) annually in real terms compared to 15 years ago, the BBC is doubling down on digital innovation while continuing its austerity measures.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025
While the grid’s numbered fill and rigid borders may give the impression of austerity, sudoku is, at its root, a simple game of pattern recognition.
—Elie Levine, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ət-ē
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere
2
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
3
: a way of living with few or no luxuries
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