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
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
Ahead of the closing of the deal, Paramount was already showing signs of private equity-style fiscal austerity.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025
Maybe the Red Sox will grow tired of austerity, of one-year contracts and painless trades for fixer-uppers, of waiting for a homegrown core to spark a renaissance.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
The French gray stone has darkened over nearly 200 years, but its light color and austerity contrast perceptively and soothingly with what is now Charlestown’s dense, ragtag city landscape.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Ahead of the closing of the deal, Paramount was already showing signs of private equity-style fiscal austerity.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025
Maybe the Red Sox will grow tired of austerity, of one-year contracts and painless trades for fixer-uppers, of waiting for a homegrown core to spark a renaissance.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
The French gray stone has darkened over nearly 200 years, but its light color and austerity contrast perceptively and soothingly with what is now Charlestown’s dense, ragtag city landscape.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 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 19 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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