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

If that scenario unfolds, the U.S. could be forced into painful austerity. —Selina Wang, ABC News, 4 July 2025

Onganía promised nothing less than a new social order: a project of economic modernization marked by austerity, and a cultural policy that included censoring artists, attacking the autonomy of universities, banning miniskirts, and prohibiting long hair for men. —Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

But voters from across the political spectrum oppose the austerity plans for Medicaid and the ACA. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

Mamet’s austerity and sparseness hold these three sequences together. —Armond White, National Review, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see austere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for austerity

• alterity
• asperity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• hilarity
• molarity
• planarity
• polarity
• posterity
• prosperity
• severity

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