English Reference
Adjective

skimpy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈskɪmpi/ UK /skˈɪmpi/ skimpy

adj.very thin, small, or not enough for what you need. You often use it to describe clothes that are too light or a meal that has very little food.

adj.insufficient in amount, quality, or coverage; lacking in substance or thickness. Often carries a negative connotation of being inadequate for the intended purpose.


SIMPLE

The hotel room was small and the breakfast was skimpy.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long hike in the desert, the travelers were disappointed to find that the water supply was skimpy and barely enough for one person.

COMPLEX

The report provided a skimpy overview of the data, omitting the most significant variables that would have explained the sudden shift in consumer behavior.


From skimp + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated