austerity

[aw-ster-i-tee]

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.

austerity

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of austerity¹

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

Synonym Study

See hardship.

Example Sentences

She told MPs her choices meant there would be no "reckless borrowing" or a return to austerity and that NHS waiting lists and government debt would continue to be cut.

Read more on BBC

Elsewhere in Europe, three French governments have collapsed over the past 18 months due to budgetary disputes, with lawmakers failing to pass austerity measures that aim to reduce the deficit.

Read more on Barron's

Elsewhere in Europe, three French governments have collapsed over the past 18 months due to budgetary disputes, with lawmakers failing to pass austerity measures that aim to reduce the deficit.

Read more on Barron's

The tough austerity brought down triple-digit inflation but increased unemployment as factories closed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A UK Labour spokesperson said: "After 14 years of Tory chaos, a botched Brexit, and damaging austerity – we know families across Wales are struggling."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• prudence 
• self-discipline 

When To Use

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.