scant

[ skant ]

adjective

, scant·er, scant·est.

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 by of ):

   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

/ 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. postpositivefoll byof 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

Derived Forms

• ˈscantness, noun
• ˈscantly, adverb

Other Words From

• scantly adverb
• scantness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scant¹

C14: from Old Norse skamt, from skammr /short; related to Old High German scam

Example Sentences

Such drill holes augment the scant fossil record of octopus evolution.

From Science News

Details about the project are scant, but here’s what we know about it.

From Popular-Science

So far, however, there’s scant detail on what this pivot actually means beyond what’s been teased in the video used to launch the partnership.

From Digiday

There’s scant clinical evidence that a 12-week gap will be as effective as a 21-day one.

From Fortune

Their actions drew scant condemnation from Western politicians.

From Time

Retailers were hammered by the scheme because checks and balances were scant in 2012, when the eBay grifting peaked.

From The Daily Beast

But even if the promised money does finally arrive, there is scant guarantee it will be used appropriately.

From The Daily Beast

How sad, then, that her writings make scant mention the other great thinkers of her age.

From The Daily Beast

But they provide scant details about why Alexander bought and sold shares when he did, or even how much.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed there is a pre-Hispanic ceremonial site located a scant 400 meters from the outer edge of the Otomí Lake & Villas property.

From The Daily Beast

History gives them scant notice, and the Federal government has failed to reward them as they deserve.

From Project Gutenberg

The big gray sedan carrying Delancy and his pals, hit the suburban town at a scant seventy miles an hour.

From Project Gutenberg

But, fortunately, they had scant time for repining, and there is nothing like active occupation to banish useless brooding.

From Project Gutenberg

On arriving he tendered the driver sixpence, which was strictly the fare, though but scant remuneration for the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

These flats were free from stones and covered with a scant growth of cottonwoods and pions.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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