dearth
Americannoun
-
an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack.
There is a dearth of good engineers.
- Synonyms:
- insufficiency, paucity, want, shortage
- Antonyms:
- surplus, sufficiency, plenty, abundance
-
scarcity and dearness of food; famine.
noun
Usage
What does dearth mean? A dearth of something is a lack or scarcity of it. The word is especially used in serious situations in which there is a shortage of something important. It is usually followed by of and the thing that is lacking, as in a dearth of resources or a dearth of clean water. Much less commonly, dearth is used in a more specific way to refer to a scarcity of food—a famine. Example: The dearth of teachers has resulted in large class sizes.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dearth
First recorded in 1200–50, dearth is from the Middle English word derthe. See dear 1, -th 1
Explanation
If there is a dearth of something, there is not enough of it. A dearth of cupcakes is unfortunate, but a dearth of nutritious food is a serious problem. Dearth is an Old English noun formed from the adjective deore, "precious, costly," and the noun-forming suffix -th. Though the relationship of dearth meaning "lack, insufficient amount" to the adjective dear is not so obvious, it is still easy to imagine that something precious is probably also in short supply. Dearth is used almost exclusively in the phrase "a dearth of."
Vocabulary lists containing dearth
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Zilch, Zip, Nada: Words For Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We know the mask use is a critical step to making this a successful event,” Dearth said.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2021
We have seven explanations for the Dearth of July.
From Time • Jul. 8, 2014
The star made the comedy shorts Dearth of a Salesman and Insomnia is Good For You in 1957 as he tried to make his name as a film actor.
From BBC • Dec. 11, 2013
He and his wife, Molly Dearth, both 32, were lounging in the electric guitar room, where Mr. Williams, who is a musician, was trying out a couple of instruments.
From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2012
How a Dearth of Domestics may prove a Blessing.
From A Treatise on Domestic Economy For the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School by Beecher, Catharine Esther
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
