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
To escape this situation without crushing austerity measures, the government would almost certainly reach for heterodox options that are today more usually associated with emerging markets.
—
Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Presidential candidates across the political spectrum promised economic austerity measures, like ending popular fuel subsidies.
—Mollie J. Cohen, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
Both leading candidates, Quiroga and businessman Samuel Doria Medina, have pledged painful austerity measures including eliminating fuel and food subsidies—policies that risk sparking social unrest in a country where Indigenous and rural communities depend heavily on government support.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Lenders believed austerity measures were the answer and forced Greece into making politically unpopular but economically required structural changes.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Presidential candidates across the political spectrum promised economic austerity measures, like ending popular fuel subsidies.
—Mollie J. Cohen, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
Both leading candidates, Quiroga and businessman Samuel Doria Medina, have pledged painful austerity measures including eliminating fuel and food subsidies—policies that risk sparking social unrest in a country where Indigenous and rural communities depend heavily on government support.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Lenders believed austerity measures were the answer and forced Greece into making politically unpopular but economically required structural changes.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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