dearth

noun

1
: scarcity that makes dear
specifically : famine
2
: an inadequate supply : lack
a dearth of evidence

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Where does the word dearth come from?

Dearth has, in one form or another, been used to refer to scarcity since at least the 13th century, when it often referred specifically to the plague of famine (as in “a time of dearth”), whether brought on by an insidious crop disease or by invaders. The word traces back to the Old English adjective dēore, meaning “dear” (dēore is also the ancestor of dear, which also once meant “scarce,” though that sense is now obsolete). That notion of dearness or importance endures in dearth, which implies the absence or scarcity of not just any old thing, but of something one wants or needs. A dearth of mauls, for example, would be the bane of a woodcutter’s existence.

Examples of dearth in a Sentence

It may also be a respite for booksellers, who have been grumbling for several years about sluggish sales and a dearth of dependable blockbuster fiction. Julie Bosman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2006
… Earnhardt has recently hinted that a company-wide dearth of talent is the core reason his Chevy simply isn't as fast in 2005 as it's been in the past. Lars Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Apr. 2006
AirNet, which hauls bank checks and other time-critical freight, used to require that its pilots have at least 1,200 hours of flight experience. Then, faced with a dearth of experienced applicants, it dropped the requirement to 500 hours. Now, it has no minimum. Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal, 10 Aug. 2000
there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the furlough of more than 9,000 National Park Service employees will create a dearth of park rangers to ensure safety and guide visitors. Brian Todd, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025 In the manufacturing, construction and electrical trades, there's a dearth of talent as skilled laborers age out of the workforce without being replaced by younger workers. Kate Rogers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025 Researchers and advocates say that, in addition to a dearth of court case data, another phenomenon tends to obscure how often this happens. Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025 One was the dearth of births during the Great Depression and its collapse in immigration. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dearth

Word History

Etymology

Middle English derthe, from Old English *dierth, from dēore dear

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dearth was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Dearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dearth. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

dearth

noun

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