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

In some of China’s most productive regions, water scarcity and water pollution threaten farming; in other areas, torrential rainfall and flooding—made more frequent by climate change—are destroying crops. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

This move, coupled with broader industry efforts in memory compression and new architectures from companies like Samsung and SK Hynix, actively challenges the market's assumption of perpetual memory scarcity. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Given the scarcity of 70mm auditoriums, many of those locations are sold out through September. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

In regions already facing water scarcity, the consequences can be severe. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 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