scarce

[skairs]

adjective

scarcer, scarcest 

1. insufficient to satisfy the need or demand; not abundant.

   Meat and butter were scarce during the war.

   Synonyms: deficient
   Antonyms: abundant

2. seldom met with; rare.

   a scarce book.

   Synonyms: infrequent, uncommon

adverb

1. scarcely.

scarce

/ skɛəs /

adjective

1. rarely encountered

2. insufficient to meet the demand

3. informal,  to go away, esp suddenly

adverb

1. archaic,  scarcely

Other Word Forms

• scarceness noun
• unscarce adjective
• unscarcely adverb
• unscarceness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarce¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English scars, from Old North French (e)scars, from Vulgar Latin excarpsus (unrecorded) “plucked out,” from Latin excerptus; excerpt

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarce¹

C13: from Old Norman French scars, from Vulgar Latin excarpsus (unattested) plucked out, from Latin excerpere to select; see _excerpt

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make oneself scarce,

   1. to depart, especially suddenly.

   2. to stay away; avoid.

More idioms and phrases containing scarce

• make oneself scarce

Example Sentences

But with hospitals coming under fire and running out of supplies, medical care is scarce.

From BBC

As deportations slow construction, and tariffs and trade wars make supplies scarcer and more expensive, the housing shortage becomes an even deeper crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

She is now living in temporary shelter where food is scarce and water unclean.

From BBC

“It’s important for people to consider that shows are sacred, especially in the U.S. where financial support is scarce,” she added.

From Los Angeles Times

Social services, such as safe houses for abused women and their children, are often scarce or nonexistent in rural areas.

From Salon

Related Words

• deficient 
• limited 
• rare 
• scant 
• scanty 
• sparse 
• sporadic