scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sə-tē How to pronounce scarcity (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And virtually all women east of the Appalachians experienced the violence, sickness, and scarcity of a civil war in which front lines and home fronts were never far apart. Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025 The state’s older housing stock and popularity among those seeking beachfront vacation homes or easy commutes into New York City contribute to the scarcity, the report added. Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 This job scarcity is likely to mean more restrictions across the board — on their time and on their speech. Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025 We were also expected to fight against other minorities for space and economic opportunities that white people had no interest in, redlined into the same housing markets and expected to betray each other, told that there was scarcity. Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scarcity

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarcity was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun
scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē How to pronounce scarcity (audio)
ˈskar-
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply

More from Merriam-Webster on scarcity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!