Word
scant
US/ˈskænt/
UK/skˈɑːnt/
Definitions
01hardly enough
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. very little or not enough of something.
adj. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; meager.
“The survivors had scant hope of being found before the storm arrived.”
“The report was criticized for providing scant evidence to support such a radical change in public policy.”
02very little
C1 · Advanced Formal
det. used to emphasize that there is almost none of something.
det. functioning as a quantifier to indicate a negligible or insufficient amount.
Español:exiguo
“He paid scant attention to the warnings until it was too late.”
“The CEO showed scant regard for the concerns raised by the junior staff during the merger negotiations.”
Antonyms
03to limit or provide less
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic
v. to give someone less than they need or deserve.
v. to limit in amount or share; to provide a grudging or insufficient supply.
“Do not scant the butter if you want the pastry to be flaky.”
“The old king was known to scant his servants' wages while spending a fortune on his own palace gardens.”
Antonyms
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun. It is a non-gradable adjective; one rarely says 'very scant'.
Real-World Examples
“Details of the register are scant at this stage, and are being developed as we speak.” “This is a story of feuding families and warring tribes with scant acknowledgment of its impact on the people who are simply battle-fodder.” Etymology
Adjective and determiner from Middle English scant, from Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr (“short”), from Proto-Germanic skammaz (“short”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱem- (“mutilated, hornless”). Verb from Middle English scanten, from the adjective. Noun and adverb from Middle English scant, from the adjective.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/scant
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0