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
Optimists like Marc Andreessen, co-creator of the Mosaic browser, insist that artificial intelligence will solve our most pressing problems—curing disease, eliminating scarcity, even boosting creativity to superhuman levels.
—
Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
The cash is aimed at countering a scarcity of mental health workers in California and across the country.
—Don Thompson, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
There’s a scarcity mentality, like there’s only so many roles.
—Ashley Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Food scarcity in Gaza has sparked scenes of desperation and widespread looting in recent days.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
The cash is aimed at countering a scarcity of mental health workers in California and across the country.
—Don Thompson, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
There’s a scarcity mentality, like there’s only so many roles.
—Ashley Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Food scarcity in Gaza has sparked scenes of desperation and widespread looting in recent days.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN Money, 29 May 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 5 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share