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
And virtually all women east of the Appalachians experienced the violence, sickness, and scarcity of a civil war in which front lines and home fronts were never far apart.
—
Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The state’s older housing stock and popularity among those seeking beachfront vacation homes or easy commutes into New York City contribute to the scarcity, the report added.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
This job scarcity is likely to mean more restrictions across the board — on their time and on their speech.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
We were also expected to fight against other minorities for space and economic opportunities that white people had no interest in, redlined into the same housing markets and expected to betray each other, told that there was scarcity.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
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Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The state’s older housing stock and popularity among those seeking beachfront vacation homes or easy commutes into New York City contribute to the scarcity, the report added.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
This job scarcity is likely to mean more restrictions across the board — on their time and on their speech.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
We were also expected to fight against other minorities for space and economic opportunities that white people had no interest in, redlined into the same housing markets and expected to betray each other, told that there was scarcity.
—Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Cite this Entry
“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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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