austerity

[ aw-ster-i-tee ]
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noun,plural aus·ter·i·ties.
  1. austere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness.

  2. Usually austerities. ascetic practices: austerities of monastery life.

  1. harsh economic policies, as increased taxes or decreased funding for social services, usually adopted in response to government debt or deficits (often used attributively): Economic growth slowed under austerity.The legislature tried to reduce the budget deficit with austerity measures that raised the retirement age and cut pension benefits.

Origin of austerity

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English austerite , from Anglo-French, Old French austerite , from Latin austēritās; see austere, -ity

synonym study For austerity

2. See hardship.

Other words for austerity

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use austerity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for austerity

austerity

/ (ɒˈstɛrɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. the state or quality of being austere

  2. (often plural) an austere habit, practice, or act

    • reduced availability of luxuries and consumer goods, esp when brought about by government policy

    • (as modifier): an austerity budget

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012