[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/scarcity/)

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# scarcity

noun (scarcity, scarcities)

«scarcity» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Scarcity is when there is not enough of something that people need or want. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#m1)
2. (economics) Scarcity is the basic idea that resources are limited, so people must choose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#m2)

### In the lessons

In social studies and science: scarcity of water in deserts, food scarcity in a drought. In maths and money lessons, scarcity can make prices go up. Phrases: «water scarcity», «scarcity of food».

### Examples

- Water scarcity is a big problem in dry countries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#x1)
- The scarcity of rain killed the crops. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#x2)
- Because of the scarcity of eggs, the price went up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#x3)
- Scarcity means people must choose what to buy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#x4)
- During the war there was a scarcity of sugar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/#x5)

### Note

Noun of «scarce» (rare, not enough). Usually uncountable. Spelling: scar-ci-ty (not «scarceity»).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scarcity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scarcity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scarcity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scarcity.html) on Mova free.