austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē 
-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
In 2015, amid one of the worst financial crises in Greece’s history, he was appointed by the country’s new left-wing government to try to save the financial system and to fend off punishing austerity measures that the country’s creditors had proposed in exchange for a bailout.
—
Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Gómez and his wife are among a large group of Argentines who say their economic situation is worse now than a year ago as a consequence of a series of austerity and deregulation measures ordered by President Javier Milei in his first 100 days in office.
—Débora Rey, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Oversight for these migrant support services is thin, and government funding – though never sizable nor consistent – has essentially disappeared under the austerity measures of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
—Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024
Germany played an outsize role in EU decision-making during this period, as Merkel used the country’s economic weight to steer Brussels’s policies on austerity measures, data privacy, and migration.
—Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2024
Once again, Argentina’s policy makers have implemented austerity measures that have reduced or stopped social programs.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Like British director Loach, Morton has often criticized the ruling Conservative Party in the U.K. of hurting people and society with austerity measures.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2024
After years of wartime austerity and government imposed restrictions on the use of all materials used to make clothing, and the shortages of raw materials to make them, Carolle’s joyful, ultra feminine designs were the equivalent of a glass of cool water on the hottest summer day.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
The images from the British leg are exhibited in small ‘‘austerity’’ walnut frames, to indicate Britain was still in throes of a postwar recession.
—Lucie Young, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024
Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Gómez and his wife are among a large group of Argentines who say their economic situation is worse now than a year ago as a consequence of a series of austerity and deregulation measures ordered by President Javier Milei in his first 100 days in office.
—Débora Rey, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Oversight for these migrant support services is thin, and government funding – though never sizable nor consistent – has essentially disappeared under the austerity measures of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
—Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024
Germany played an outsize role in EU decision-making during this period, as Merkel used the country’s economic weight to steer Brussels’s policies on austerity measures, data privacy, and migration.
—Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2024
Once again, Argentina’s policy makers have implemented austerity measures that have reduced or stopped social programs.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Like British director Loach, Morton has often criticized the ruling Conservative Party in the U.K. of hurting people and society with austerity measures.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2024
After years of wartime austerity and government imposed restrictions on the use of all materials used to make clothing, and the shortages of raw materials to make them, Carolle’s joyful, ultra feminine designs were the equivalent of a glass of cool water on the hottest summer day.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
The images from the British leg are exhibited in small ‘‘austerity’’ walnut frames, to indicate Britain was still in throes of a postwar recession.
—Lucie Young, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024
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
Phrases Containing austerity
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Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ət-ē
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
More from Merriam-Webster on austerity
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for austerity
Nglish: Translation of austerity for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of austerity for Arabic Speakers
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