scarcity Definition
scar·city (sker′sə tē)
noun pl. -·ties
- the condition or quality of being scarce; inadequate supply; dearth
- rarity; uncommonness
Etymology: ME scarsite < NormFr escarseté
scarcity Synonyms
scarcity Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- resource: He thus shows, decline in scarcity of mineral resources.
- fuel: One great drawback on the property of Forfar is the scarcity of fuel.
- labor: A problem aggravated by the increased cost and scarcity of labor brought about by a prolonged period of population decline.
- capital: On the contrary, given the scarcity of social capital in many cities, these faith institutions are more needed than ever.
Converse of object
- reflect: Moreover, socio-economic and class issues tend to get short shrift, reflecting a scarcity of research in this field.
- increase: In view of the increasing scarcity of landfill sites, the recycling of such materials is an important issue.
- create: Every website owner is rushing to the major ad networks which creates a scarcity of ad spots.
Adjective modifier
- artificial: Even with such artificial scarcity, broadcasting licenses can be assigned by auction rather than by political discretion.
- relative: Probably the main reason for the relative scarcity of birds was the lack of water on the island.
- absolute: It is untenable, then, to suggest that absolute scarcity propelled the events of 2003.
- environmental: Future efforts at conflict prevention and resolution should take the role that environmental scarcity plays into account.
Modifies a noun
value: Due to scarcity value, the handful of beach houses dotted along the sand command premium prices.
Noun used with modifier
- freshwater: Click here for maps showing freshwater scarcity in Africa and the World at large.
- spectrum: But not before analog switch-off because of spectrum scarcity.
- water: Water scarcity in the Middle East or North Africa for example is a high ranking national interest.
- resource: These approaches combined show a potential way out of the current artificially created resource scarcity of spectrum.
- food: Notwithstanding the general food scarcity foodstuffs are still being sent abroad.
- land: Land available for small-scale farming has shrunk, creating land scarcity among the farming population.
Browse dictionary entries near scarcity
- ‹ scarcement
- ‹ scarcely
- ‹ scarce
- ‹ Scarborough
- ‹ Scaramouch
- ‹ scarabaeid
- ‹ scarab
- ‹ scar tissue
- ‹ scar
- ‹ scapular medal
- scare ›
- scare off or away ›
- scare up ›
- scarecrow ›
- scared ›
- scaredy-cat ›
- scarehead ›
- scaremonger ›
- scarf ›
- scarfskin ›

