scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sə-tē 

-stē

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce

especially : want of provisions for the support of life

Synonyms

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

Examples of scarcity in a Sentence

Scarcity of food forced the herds to move.

the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising

Recent Examples on the Web

Become visibly in demand through authentic scarcity. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Hamas currently benefits from resource scarcity, diverting humanitarian aid and exerting control over its distribution. —Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2025

The scarcity of specifics in recent weeks, and sometimes contrasting messages coming from the White House, have fueled conversations about flexibility between chief marketing officers and media executives, the people said. —Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025

Some notes to keep in mind: First, positional scarcity is taken into account. —Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē 

ˈskar-

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply