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
That’s how transit used to work in Chicago too, before austerity dwindled capacity to a focus on commuters.
—
Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
But the value of these grants has plummeted since 2010, when the former Conservative government embarked on a decade of austerity designed to shrink the country’s debts following the financial crisis.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Critics will cry that this is austerity in disguise.
—Zac Townsend, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025
Though reluctant to intervene too explicitly in Argentine politics, Francis criticized the social costs of Macri’s economic program, which mostly consisted of austerity measures and an unsustainable deregulation of the dollar exchange rate.
—Federico Perelmuter, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
But the value of these grants has plummeted since 2010, when the former Conservative government embarked on a decade of austerity designed to shrink the country’s debts following the financial crisis.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Critics will cry that this is austerity in disguise.
—Zac Townsend, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025
Though reluctant to intervene too explicitly in Argentine politics, Francis criticized the social costs of Macri’s economic program, which mostly consisted of austerity measures and an unsustainable deregulation of the dollar exchange rate.
—Federico Perelmuter, The Dial, 13 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 13 May. 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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