scarcity
noun
scar·ci·ty
ˈsker-sə-tē 
-stē
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce
especially
: want of provisions for the support of life
Examples of scarcity in a Sentence
Scarcity of food forced the herds to move.
the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising
Recent Examples on the Web
The same scarcity driving wages up is a symptom of a profession under enormous strain.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
There is a scarcity of food, scarcity of medicine.
—NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
The scarcity of facilities exacerbates the problem of families having to travel sometimes long distances to visit their disabled children, the court found, further isolating the kids.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the island’s population, almost all of which lives below the poverty line according to some estimates, continues to face essential scarcities, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
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Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
There is a scarcity of food, scarcity of medicine.
—NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
The scarcity of facilities exacerbates the problem of families having to travel sometimes long distances to visit their disabled children, the court found, further isolating the kids.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the island’s population, almost all of which lives below the poverty line according to some estimates, continues to face essential scarcities, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Cite this Entry
“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scarcity
noun
scar·ci·ty
ˈsker-sət-ē
ˈskar-
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply
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