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

• 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

While undertaking a magnetic survey of the Indian subcontinent, Colonel Alexander Strange of the Royal Artillery had experienced firsthand the human toll of drought. —Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025

This drought-tolerant beauty serves as a host plant to Pearl Crescent butterfly larvae, and its blooms support a diversity of specialized native bees. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025

That mindset is a result of the mental exhaustion and anguish of their postseason drought, which is speeding toward a full decade and represents the longest current stretch in the NBA. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025

While any improvement in the monitor is good news, drought across the state is still far from over. —Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 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