austerity

American  

[aw-ster-i-tee] / ɔˈstɛr ɪ ti /

noun

plural

austerities

1. austere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness.

   Synonyms:

   rigor, asceticism, strictness, harshness

   Antonyms:

   leniency

2. Usually austerities. ascetic practices.

   austerities of monastery life.

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

   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.

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austerity British  

/ ɒˈstɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being austere

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

3. 1. reduced availability of luxuries and consumer goods, esp when brought about by government policy

   2. ( as modifier )

      an austerity budget

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Usage

What does austerity mean? Austerity means sternness, severity, or a state of extreme self-discipline or minimalistic living.Austerity is the noun form of the adjective austere, which most commonly means extremely stern or strict or without any frills or luxuries.The word is often used in the context of a national economy in which services and access to certain goods have been scaled back by the government during times of economic crisis. This sense is especially seen in the phrase austerity measures.  The term is sometimes used in its plural form to refer to ascetic practices, like living in a monastery—think of a monk who lives in a bedroom with only a metal cot and eats plain rice every day.Example: The government has turned to austerity to help curb the rising debt.

Related Words

See hardship.

Etymology

Origin of austerity

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

Example Sentences

Like southern European neighbour Portugal, and Greece, Spain has rebounded from harsh austerity measures and heavy debt in the early 2010s, with a tourism rebound following the Covid-19 pandemic playing an important role.

From Barron's

With the censure motions out of the way, the government can resume its efforts to get the second half of a much-needed 2026 austerity budget through parliament.

From Barron's

The budget proposed by the government in December included a number of austerity measures.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite the concessions, the new budget still translates to spending cuts for nearly all ministries, advancing Milei’s austerity agenda.

From The Wall Street Journal

And yet there’s something admirable in their scrappy monumentality, particularly during this time of Hollywood largesse for franchises and austerity for just about everything else.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• prudence
• self-discipline