scant

American  

[skant] / skænt /

adjective

scanter, scantest

1. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; not abundant; almost inadequate.

   to do scant justice.

2. limited; meager; not large.

   a scant amount.

   Synonyms:

   restricted, small, scanty

3. barely amounting to as much as indicated.

   a scant two hours; a scant cupful.

4. having an inadequate or limited supply (usually followed byof ).

   scant of breath.

   Synonyms:

   deficient, wanting, lacking, short

---

verb (used with object)

1. to make scant; diminish.

   Synonyms:

   curtail, decrease, reduce, lessen

2. to stint the supply of; withhold.

   Synonyms:

   scrimp, skimp, restrict, limit

3. to treat slightly or inadequately.

   Synonyms:

   neglect, slight

adverb

1. Scot. and North England Dialect. scarcely; barely; hardly.

scant British  

/ skænt /

adjective

1. scarcely sufficient; limited

   he paid her scant attention

2. (prenominal) slightly short of the amount indicated; bare

   a scant ten inches

3. having a short supply (of)

---

verb

1. to limit in size or quantity

2. to provide with a limited or inadequate supply of

3. to treat in a slighting or inadequate manner

adverb

1. scarcely; barely

Other Word Forms

• scantly adverb
• scantness noun

Etymology

Origin of scant

1325–75; Middle English (adj.) < Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr short

Example Sentences

"Breast milk can come if there is something to eat, but now there is nothing," she said, gently rocking Riak under the scant protection of a cotton sheet.

From Barron's

With scant information given by the various sides, back at the Intercontinental, vehicle registration plates gave away that the US delegation was sweeping in, straight from the Iran talks.

From Barron's

And yet historians, he tells us, have made scant use of it.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is scant evidence to support his claim.

From Barron's

Many countries have tried to reverse this trend, with scant success.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insufficient
• mere
• paltry
• scanty
• skimpy
• slight
• sparse