scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sə-tē 

-stē

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce

especially : want of provisions for the support of life

Synonyms of scarcity

• shortage
• lack

Examples of scarcity in a Sentence

Scarcity of food forced the herds to move.

the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising

Recent Examples on the Web

Limited releases drum up hype For some collectors, the scarcity is part of the appeal. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

Printmaker Elizabeth Olds complained that limited print editions imposed artificial scarcity when printing innovations could make art as accessible as free public education. —John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026

And in an era of scarcity and uncertainty, staying right behind the leaders could be a smart play. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026

Kuwait has claimed that an Iranian airstrike damaged one of its desalination plants, marking the latest major piece of infrastructure targeted in the war, and exposing the scarcity of drinkable water in the region. —Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē 

ˈskar-

plural scarcities

: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply