US /ˈskɛɹsɪti/ UK /ˈskɛəsɪti/
noun Freq #35263

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a small and inadequate amount

    A scarcity of grain raised prices throughout the town.

  2. 2
    noun

    The condition of something being scarce or deficient.

    Praise […] owes its value only to its scarcity.

  3. 3
    noun

    An inadequate amount of something; a shortage.

    a scarcity of grain

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a small and inadequate amount scarceness
2 noun · the condition of something... infrequency
3 noun · an inadequate amount of... dearth
Word family
Derived forms postscarcity

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English scarsite, from Old Northern French escarsete; by surface analysis, scarce + -ity.

Topics

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