austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē 
-ˈste-rə-,
also -ˈstir-ə-
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere: such as
a
: a stern and serious quality
the formal austerity of his manner
b
: a plain and simple quality
the austerity of the design
2
: enforced or extreme economy especially on a national scale
lived through years of austerity after the war
fiscal austerity
a series of austerity measures [=measures taken to reduce spending]
3
a
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
monastic self-denial and austerities
b
: an ascetic (see ascetic sense 1) practice
Examples of austerity in a Sentence
the austerity of the design
The austerity of their lifestyle was surprising.
They lived through years of austerity after the war.
the austerities practiced by monks
Recent Examples on the Web
Union has a more obvious narrative drive, but retains some of that sense of momentous austerity.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Years of deficit spending and a new Republican majority in the House cast a cloud of budget austerity over Congress.
—Kenneth Evans, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2024
Previous run-ups in prices included a 27-month period immediately after World War II, when consumer spending after years of wartime austerity combined with supply shortages as industry began its conversion of output from military hardware to consumer goods.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
In recent days, in advance of the Labour Party Conference that kicked off Monday and next month’s release of the first budget of the new Labour government, concerns about new levels of austerity have become widespread.
—Kevin Klowden, Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for austerity 
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Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Years of deficit spending and a new Republican majority in the House cast a cloud of budget austerity over Congress.
—Kenneth Evans, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2024
Previous run-ups in prices included a 27-month period immediately after World War II, when consumer spending after years of wartime austerity combined with supply shortages as industry began its conversion of output from military hardware to consumer goods.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
In recent days, in advance of the Labour Party Conference that kicked off Monday and next month’s release of the first budget of the new Labour government, concerns about new levels of austerity have become widespread.
—Kevin Klowden, Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for austerity
Dictionary Entries Near austerity
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
ȯ-ˈster-ət-ē
plural austerities
1
: the quality or state of being austere
2
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
3
: a way of living with few or no luxuries
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