Advertisement
Advertisement
austerity
[aw-ster-i-tee]
noun
plural
austeritiesaustere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness.
Antonyms: leniencyUsually austerities. ascetic practices.
austerities of monastery life.
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
/ ɒˈstɛrɪtɪ /
noun
the state or quality of being austere
(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
Word History and Origins
Origin of austerity1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Public sector workers were protesting against austerity measures and a government increasingly perceived as leaning right.
Among other austerity measures, he halved government ministries, cut tens of thousands of public jobs, slashed budgets including for education, health, pensions and infrastructure, and removed subsidies – spiking utility and transport prices.
Lecornu's reappointment comes as France faces political deadlock and a parliamentary impasse over an austerity budget against a backdrop of climbing public debt.
Pressure mounted Saturday on France's newly reappointed premier Sebastien Lecornu to get an austerity budget approved, as more parties threatened to topple a man whose first term lasted a mere 27 days.
Macron's office said he would pick a name by Friday evening after his seventh prime minister Sebastien Lecornu threw in the towel on Monday following months of stalemate over an austerity budget.
Advertisement
Related Words
When To Use
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.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse