Word
scarcity
Phoneticsscarci·ty
US/ˈskɛɹsɪti/
UK/skˈeəsɪti/
Definitions
01the state of being rare
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. the general state of not having enough of something.
n. the abstract condition of being scarce or deficient in supply. Uncountable in this sense.
“The scarcity of clean water is a major problem in many parts of the world.”
“Economists often define their field as the study of how society manages its resources in the face of absolute scarcity.”
02a specific shortage
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a specific time or situation when there is not enough of a particular thing.
n. a specific instance or period of inadequate supply. Countable in this sense.
“Food scarcities during the war led to strict rationing for every family.”
“The sudden scarcity of semiconductor chips forced several major car manufacturers to halt production for months.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Both drought and water scarcity can lead to hosepipe bans, if they are not already in place.” “Photograph: Trunk Records Given the scarcity of these wrappers and the lack of information about them, tracing down their designers is a problem.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English scarsite, from Old Northern French escarsete; by surface analysis, scarce + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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