austerity

noun

aus·​ter·​i·​ty ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē How to pronounce austerity (audio)
-ˈste-rə-,
 also  -ˈstir-ə-
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere: such as
a
: a stern and serious quality
the formal austerity of his manner
b
: a plain and simple quality
the austerity of the design
2
: enforced or extreme economy especially on a national scale
lived through years of austerity after the war
fiscal austerity
a series of austerity measures [=measures taken to reduce spending]
3
a
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
monastic self-denial and austerities
b
: an ascetic (see ascetic sense 1) practice

Examples of austerity in a Sentence

the austerity of the design The austerity of their lifestyle was surprising. They lived through years of austerity after the war. the austerities practiced by monks
Recent Examples on the Web But Wilders did not formally join the minority administration and brought it down after just 18 months in office in a dispute over austerity measures. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023 Some see a wave of austerity coming to an industry known for its glamour and largesse. Joe Otterson, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023 There’s little hint of austerity on the rest of the campus. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Nov. 2023 The advertising holding company has seen results lag this year as clients in tech and telecoms pull back amid broader austerity measures. WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023 While the council plans to shield the vulnerable sections of the population from the impact of this austerity measure, councils elsewhere have hiked taxes to shore up finances in the past. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023 Her book Fear City: New York’s Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics (2017) tells the story of New York City’s near bankruptcy in 1975 and its subsequent austerity program. Sam Needleman, The New York Review of Books, 7 Oct. 2023 In that regard, Franco’s latest represents a slight departure, without surrendering the director’s signature austerity and intensity. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023 The ethical axis contrasts Ephraim’s rigid Protestant moralism and austerity with Nicholas’s arrogant amorality, which is given a florid, quasi-Nietzschean or even Randian tinge. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'austerity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see austere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near austerity

Cite this Entry

“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

austerity

noun
aus·​ter·​i·​ty ȯ-ˈster-ət-ē How to pronounce austerity (audio)
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere
2
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
3
: a way of living with few or no luxuries
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!