scarcity

noun

scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sə-tē How to pronounce scarcity (audio)
-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 Locals describe the economics of scarcity: Nearly all of the tobacco now entering Gaza comes from smugglers who manage to slip it among truckloads of food at the commercial crossing still open. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024 So has public anxiety about a scarcity of charging stations, potentially made worse by rising thefts of cables at charging stations. Paul Wiseman, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024 High-income governments prepurchased most of the world’s supply of vaccines, causing extreme global scarcity. Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 19 June 2024 As the threat of the duck hunting ban loomed, retailers stopped importing duck hunting gear (like the U.S., Australia has outsourced much of its manufacturing to Asia) creating scarcity. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for scarcity 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarcity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarcity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scarcity

Cite this Entry

“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

scarcity

noun
scar·​ci·​ty ˈsker-sət-ē How to pronounce scarcity (audio)
ˈskar-
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply

More from Merriam-Webster on scarcity

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