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:
But "we are already struggling with water scarcity", the 57-year-old said, standing beside a dry well.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
While only 80,000 bison are harvested in a year—the beef industry processes more cattle in a day—that scarcity has pushed bison prices to record highs, often nearly double those of beef.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Jesus, in a time of scarcity, makes sure everybody has enough.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
Other factors also add a sense of scarcity.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
Milton stepped on the gas, ignoring the scarcity not only of petroleum but of many other things as well.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Most scarcities involve older medications in which there is little financial incentive to manufacture the drugs.
From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2024
"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
“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.
