drought

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

Synonyms of drought

• shortage
• lack

Examples of drought in a Sentence

The drought caused serious damage to crops.

a period of drought that lasted several years

Recent Examples on the Web

But continuous warmer temperatures and drought — conditions made more likely by climate change — have sapped otherwise healthy trees’ defenses to the beetles. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

Originally a catcher, Contreras was a member of the historic 2016 Chicago Cubs club that broke the franchise’s 108-year championship drought. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025

The Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought increased to 30 years as the team was eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday and then lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025

During years of drought, when the water level dropped, trees grew in the lake bed, but when water returned following heavy rainfalls, the trees lost all their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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