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

This comes as Iran experiences one of its worst droughts on record, and its fifth consecutive year of drought. —Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025

The Labor Department will release its numbers on September hiring and unemployment next Thursday, a month and a half late, marking the beginning of the end of a data drought caused by the 43-day federal government shutdown. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025

With gusty winds, low humidity and ongoing drought conditions - the risk of wildfires will be greater on Sunday. —Cutter Martin, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025

Those subtle changes can have big ripple effects across the globe's climate, with the cycle at times increasing the chances for rain, drought, hurricanes and other chaos. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Nov. 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