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
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
The Venezuelan people have endured years of instability, scarcity, and fear.
—
Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Inflation rates soaring as high as 65,000% helped lead to a scarcity of goods like food and medicine and the collapse of Venezuela’s local currency, the bolívar.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
There was a scarcity of paper mills that produced recycled paper at the time.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
In Africa, extremists exploit ungoverned water scarcity to recruit and control populations.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
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Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Inflation rates soaring as high as 65,000% helped lead to a scarcity of goods like food and medicine and the collapse of Venezuela’s local currency, the bolívar.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
There was a scarcity of paper mills that produced recycled paper at the time.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
In Africa, extremists exploit ungoverned water scarcity to recruit and control populations.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Cite this Entry
“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scarcity
noun
scar·ci·ty
ˈsker-sət-ē
ˈskar-
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply
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