drought

noun

ˈdrau̇t 

variants or less commonly drouth

ˈdrau̇th 

1

: a period of dryness especially when prolonged

specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth

resistant to drought

2

: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired

a drought of creativity

droughtiness

ˈdrau̇-tē-nəs 

noun

droughty

ˈdrau̇-tē

adjective

Synonyms

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

Examples of drought in a Sentence

The drought caused serious damage to crops.

a period of drought that lasted several years

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, most of the southern half of the US all the way from Southern California to the Carolinas should see less rain and snow than usual, which is potentially a concern for drought conditions. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024

While La Niña tends to favor the odds for drought conditions in Southern California, that’s not always the case. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

The pattern could foster or further intensify drought conditions in Southern states, including Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, which are expected to be relatively hot and dry. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024

Sources: The Independent, Nature Early warning systems are helping prevent agricultural losses from drought in Kenya Climate change has worsened droughts in Kenya, threatening food stocks in a region prone to famine. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English drūgath, from drūgian to dry up; akin to Old English drȳge dry — more at dry

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

drought

noun

variants also drouth

ˈdrau̇t 

ˈdrau̇th

: a long period of dry weather

droughty

-ē

adjective