paucity

noun

pau·​ci·​ty ˈpȯ-sə-tē How to pronounce paucity (audio)
Synonyms of paucity
1
: smallness of number : fewness
2
: smallness of quantity : dearth

Did you know?

Learn a Little About Paucity

Paucity refers to "littleness" in numbers (as in "a paucity of facts") or quantity ("a paucity of common sense"). The word comes from paucus, Latin for "little."

Examples of paucity in a Sentence

If you had one of those Yugoslav names with a paucity of vowels, you might sprinkle in a few … Calvin Trillin, Time, 22 May 2000
For my part, I find increasingly that I miss the simplicity, the almost willful paucity, of the English way of doing things. Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
This relative paucity of freeloaders and deadbeats means that rookie Americans, as a group, more than pay their way. Jaclyn Fierman, Fortune, 9 Aug. 1993
a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour
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.
The decision isn’t likely to be an easy one, given the paucity of the data. Helen Branswell, STAT, 18 May 2026 At a Cannes where some have grumbled about a paucity of studio movies (and thus stars), the absence of Scarlett Johansson at last night’s premiere of Paper Tiger was notable. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 May 2026 Given the paucity of sincere musicals this season, this offers one of the few chances for a good blubber. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026 Experts have warned that this paucity of water, already a significant problem in Iran’s typically arid environment, will be exacerbated by climate change. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for paucity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English paucite, from Latin paucitat-, paucitas, from paucus little — more at few

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paucity was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Paucity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paucity. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

paucity

noun
pau·​ci·​ty ˈpȯ-sət-ē How to pronounce paucity (audio)
: smallness of number or quantity : scarcity
a paucity of experience

More from Merriam-Webster on paucity

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster