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

Synonyms of scarcity

• shortage
• lack

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

There may be a few folks who can salvage this soulless scourge of scarcity. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

That scarcity is one reason Terras Gauda continues planting more of the variety today. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

If launch costs fall far enough, then raw materials can be sourced from asteroids, the moon, and near-earth objects, something of particular concern worldwide as the race for rare earth minerals reaches an all-time high, complete with geopolitical tensions and actual scarcity. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 June 2026

But Johnson is a stranger to the scarcity mindset. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē 

ˈskar-

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply