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

This is because climate change and ecological collapse are very likely to cause political fragmentation that nullifies legal and cultural precedents like abolition, and bring about agrarian and manufacturing crises and scarcities in which people are forced into labor. —Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025

Cousin Ben Walton and his wife, Lucy Ana, use Zoma Capital to support water scarcity and economic development initiatives in Colorado and Chile. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

But until decision-makers address the underlying policies that create housing scarcity in safe areas and fail to protect people in vulnerable ones, climate change will continue to reshape who gets to live where – and who gets left behind when the next disaster strikes. —Ivis Garcia, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

Moreover, the wartime scarcity conditions that justified a rapid ramp-up of US LNG imports to Europe after 2022 are no longer a main concern, Kadri Simson, the former European Commissioner for Energy, told Semafor. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025

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