dearth

[durth]

noun

1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack.

   There is a dearth of good engineers.

   Synonyms: insufficiency, paucity, want, shortage
   Antonyms: surplus, sufficiency, plenty, abundance

2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

dearth

/ dɜːθ /

noun

1. an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

First recorded in 1200–50, dearth is from the Middle English word derthe. See dear ¹, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

C13: derthe , from dēr _dear

Example Sentences

In fact, Powell all but confirmed the dearth of data could make Fed officials more cautious.

Read more on Barron's

Job growth slowed down in recent months, and the dearth of data because of the government shutdown means it’s difficult to know what is happening in the U.S. economy.

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Facing a dearth of economic data during the government shutdown, the Fed chair threw cold water on Wall Street’s hopes of an additional cut at the central bank’s next meeting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The bond market has been trading with a dearth of government data.

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He said the dearth of government data has created conditions like “the dark side of the moon.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• absence 
• deficiency 
• inadequacy 
• lack 
• paucity 
• shortage 

When To Use

What does dearth mean?

A dearth of something is a lack or scarcity of it.The word is especially used in serious situations in which there is a shortage of something important. It is usually followed by of and the thing that is lacking, as in a dearth of resources or a dearth of clean water. Much less commonly, dearth is used in a more specific way to refer to a scarcity of food—a famine.Example: The dearth of teachers has resulted in large class sizes.