drought

1 of 2

noun

ˈdrau̇t 

variants or less commonly drouth

ˈdrau̇th 

1

: a period of dryness especially when prolonged

specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth

resistant to drought

2

: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired

a drought of creativity

droughtiness

ˈdrau̇-tē-nəs 

noun

droughty

ˈdrau̇-tē

adjective

droughty

2 of 2

adjective

variants or drouthy

|ē, 

|i

-er/-est

1

: dry, arid : lacking moisture

the droughty desert

—A. D. Carruthers

2

: of, relating to, or afflicted by a prolonged drought

we look into a droughty sky

—I. R. Tannehill

over most of the area droughty conditions still prevail

3

: thirsty

Synonyms of drought

Noun

• shortage
• lack

Examples of drought in a Sentence

Noun

The drought caused serious damage to crops.

a period of drought that lasted several years

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s because New Mexico has been hammered by persistent drought, and large swaths of the Rio Grande have dried up in the central part of the state. — Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

That's because New Mexico has been hammered by persistent drought, and large swaths of the Rio Grande have dried up in the central part of the state. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Over the past decade, its forest carbon sink weakened by about 27 percent as harvesting, ageing stands, drought, heat, wildfire and insect outbreaks reduced forest resilience. — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

More than 33% of Puerto Rico is under extreme drought, and another 30% under a severe drought. — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English drūgath, from drūgian to dry up; akin to Old English drȳge dry — more at dry

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drought

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout
• scout

Kids Definition

drought

noun

variants also drouth

ˈdrau̇t 

ˈdrau̇th

: a long period of dry weather

droughty

-ē

adjective