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
Pope Francis’s personal tweaks Pope Francis issued small reforms in 2024 that would make his funeral more focused on humility, austerity, and his own personal devotion.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025
One club has poor results, a squad that doesn’t fit the new manager, that same squad is uber expensive, toxic stars out on loan, limited resources to buy players, a crumbling stadium, mountains of debt, pilfering owners, and are in the midst of an austerity crackdown.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Yet the film’s duration (more than three hours) and its austerity, its only oblique connections to familiar genres, left it, and Akerman, outside the ken of general audiences.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2025
People have had it with this fake austerity circus.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025
One club has poor results, a squad that doesn’t fit the new manager, that same squad is uber expensive, toxic stars out on loan, limited resources to buy players, a crumbling stadium, mountains of debt, pilfering owners, and are in the midst of an austerity crackdown.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Yet the film’s duration (more than three hours) and its austerity, its only oblique connections to familiar genres, left it, and Akerman, outside the ken of general audiences.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2025
People have had it with this fake austerity circus.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 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 4 Mar. 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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