drought

noun

ˈdrau̇t 

variants or less commonly drouth

ˈdrau̇th 

1

: a period of dryness especially when prolonged

specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth

resistant to drought

2

: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired

a drought of creativity

droughtiness

ˈdrau̇-tē-nəs 

noun

droughty

ˈdrau̇-tē

adjective

Synonyms

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• deficit
• failure
• famine
• inadequacy
• inadequateness
• insufficiency
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• scarcity
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of drought in a Sentence

The drought caused serious damage to crops.

a period of drought that lasted several years

Recent Examples on the Web

The Shift To Renewables Is Unstoppable Climate negotiators want to limit temperature peaks to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by mid-century compared to pre-industrial levels to mitigate droughts, floods, and food shortages. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Nearly half a billion people across the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and north of the Sahara are now on the move, fleeing the devastating impact of droughts, famine, and water wars, the result of allowing unmitigated climate change to get out of control decades earlier. —Erin Prater, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2024

The majority of Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties are experiencing a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 24 Sep. 2024

Although those might be goofy, the leafless tree is meant to raise awareness of drought and climate change, according to Brian Baihaki, who submitted it to the Unicode Consortium. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English drūgath, from drūgian to dry up; akin to Old English drȳge dry — more at dry

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

drought

noun

variants also drouth

ˈdrau̇t 

ˈdrau̇th

: a long period of dry weather

droughty

-ē

adjective