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.

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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.

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

But this seemed like the year that one of them would swallow hard, push all their chips into the center of the table and go for it—not walk the tightrope between competitiveness and austerity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

German carmakers are battling fierce Chinese competition, US tariffs and weak demand in key markets, with a string of job cuts and other austerity measures announced in recent times.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

Our instinctive response to every bubble, at least for the last 25 years, has been austerity.

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

He had a calling for both sacrifice and austerity.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

“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

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

The fish that pulls the boat reveals himself at the end as the deity, Brahma, who teaches them austerities so they might acquire power over illusions.

From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2014

The old Jews, to whose knowledge these austerities came, held me for a saint; and the modern Jews said to me: 'Don't be a fool.'

From Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by B.D.

Related Words

• prudence
• self-discipline