austerity

American  

[aw-ster-i-tee] / ɔˈstɛr ɪ ti /

noun

austerities plural

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.

---

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

---

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.

Synonym Usage

See hardship.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• austerities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of austerity

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

Explanation

If you've ever had a teacher who was particularly stern and strict, you might have (quietly) remarked on his austerity. When you're talking about the character of a person, austerity means "sternness and severity." Austerity's original meaning, taken from the Greek word austeros, was "bitter or harsh taste." While it's rarely used that way anymore, it's still a great description of the word's current meanings. As well as describing a personal quality of sternness, it also means "a simple, plain manner" and "an extreme frugality." So you could talk about the austerity of a very plainly decorated room or the austerity you're forced to live with ever since your parents stopped giving you a weekly allowance. If your lack of money had a taste, it might very well be "bitter or harsh."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

austerity austerities

If we want to maintain that invisible infrastructure that is the foundation of a modern industrial society, we can’t just do austerity now.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

Wakefield said too many services for young people had been "cut, cut, cut, cut over years of austerity", and that there needed to be "more youth clubs, more opportunities for sports, more opportunities for creativity".

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

As the Joseon dynasty government intensified its commitment to Confucian values in the 15th century, the court increasingly ordered unadorned wares to demonstrate austerity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

The government has started austerity programs to reduce energy use and rushed out subsidies to cushion the impact, straining its fiscal health.

From Barron's ● May 30, 2026

“For those of us who take our vow of austerity seriously, conclave is the only time we allow ourselves the luxury of fine food and drink. It reminds us that we’re human.”

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

“These powers were allegedly acquired by Buddhist priests who performed austerities in the mountains such as ablutions under freezing waterfalls, meditation in caves, and severe dietary restrictions during extended periods of seclusion.”

From National Geographic ● Jan. 19, 2024

Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith, regarded fasting as inferior to the “truth” or “right action,” which he said was superior to fasting, penance or other austerities.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2023

To compensate for these austerities, students and their families have taken on more debt, and public institutions have had to entice more out-of-state and international students able to pay full fare.

From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2018

I could not possibly improve on the sentiment, but I don't think it ought to depend on the current austerities.

From Slate ● Dec. 25, 2017

But the first was indisposed to marry, and only consented to do so after being mollified by ardent devotions and great austerities enacted by the second.

From Ancient Faiths And Modern A Dissertation upon Worships, Legends and Divinities by Inman, Thomas

Related Words

• prudence
• self-discipline