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

The team is also working on making rice less dependent on water, which is important in regions struggling with droughts. —Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

When droughts cause food supplies to dwindle and locust populations to become more dense, the insects undergo both bodily and behavioral changes into a gregarious form. —Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

For example, in 2008, Palm Beach County suffered from a severe drought that created a series of environmental challenges. —Ryan Rossi, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025

First for him since Game 3 vs. Tampa to snap a 10-game goal-less drought. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025

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

Rhymes for drought

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout
• scout

Kids Definition

drought

noun

variants also drouth

ˈdrau̇t 

ˈdrau̇th

: a long period of dry weather

droughty

-ē

adjective