paucity

[paw-si-tee]

noun

1. smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness.

   a country with a paucity of resources.

2. smallness or insufficiency of number; fewness.

paucity

/ ˈpɔːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. smallness of quantity; insufficiency; dearth

2. smallness of number; fewness

Word History and Origins

Origin of paucity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English paucite, from Latin paucitās “fewness,” derivative of paucus “few”; -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of paucity¹

C15: from Latin paucitās scarcity, from paucus few

Example Sentences

He resigned as president after a faculty no-confidence vote following his delivery of a speech suggesting the paucity of women in science and engineering might be connected to differences in their aptitude for the subjects.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2005, as president, Summers delivered a speech suggesting the paucity of women in science and engineering might be connected to a difference in the distribution of aptitude.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some critics claim the paucity of opposition provided in Group K may have given a false impression of England's quality.

Read more on Barron's

After the blazes, there was a paucity of information about its losses and whether it could cover them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Still, a relative paucity of visible failures isn’t the same thing as an all-clear signal for all borrowers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dearth 
• insufficiency 
• smallness www.thesaurus.com