noun
-
inadequate supply; dearth; paucity
-
rarity or infrequent occurrence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of scarcity
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English scarsete(e), from Old North French escarsete; equivalent to scarce + -ity
Compare meaning
How does scarcity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If there is a cupcake scarcity in your kitchen, there are hardly any cupcakes around, and you're not sure that any will be appearing any time soon. The noun scarcity comes from the adjective scarce, which means "restricted in quantity or availability." So scarcity is the state of there being very little of something. During a war when shipping gets interrupted, there might be a fuel scarcity, pushing people to carpool or ride bikes instead of driving. If you're in a room full of super boring people, you might say there's a scarcity of good conversation.
Vocabulary lists containing scarcity
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Holes
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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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.
See Examples For:
In the last few years, multiple studies have shown that global warming is intensifying drought and worsening water scarcity in California and the western United States.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Bond portfolios have gone from scarcity in tech to a sudden inundation over the past decade.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
They reveal scarcity and coordinate countless individual decisions across society.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Among the most vulnerable sectors, she cited agriculture and heavy industry as they deal with water scarcity and higher input prices, as well as insurance if firms face higher claims.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
There was a very scarcity of life in the pose, except for a subtle rocking back and forth.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
"Relatedly, understanding how plants regulate signaling and immune responses in the face of environmental scarcities, like iron deficiencies, will be crucial as scientists optimize plant health in our continually changing climate."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2024
Given the U.S. government’s reactive approach to drug shortages, extra clarity on what is driving the scarcities would help.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 18, 2023
Acuna said products that are imported, face scarcities, or are seasonal see the highest increases.
From Reuters ● Aug. 17, 2023
"There hasn't been much of administrative support from Imphal. There are scarcities," a senior army official, who preferred to remain unnamed, said.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2023
“No, and the good year will break the price of beef. I wonder what Will would do. He’s scarcity man. He told me. He said, ‘Always deal in scarcities.’
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
