austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
| \ ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē
, -ˈste-rə- also -ˈstir-ə-\
, -ˈste-rə- also -ˈstir-ə-\
plural austerities
Definition of austerity
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]
3a
: 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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Corbyn for years has railed against Conservative Party austerity. — Washington Post, "Showdown set for the British Parliament as legislators return from summer recess," 4 Sep. 2019 In the peak year, 2012, banks paid out £6.3bn, equivalent to nearly 0.4% of GDP—a handy boost to consumers when the economy was labouring under post-crisis austerity. — The Economist, "PPI was a bonanza—for banks, and then for consumers," 29 Aug. 2019 And, the bathing place was 3 Li west of the spot where Siddhārtha took austerities. — Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, "Walking the Path of the Buddha in a Neglected Corner of India," 9 Aug. 2019 While the 2019 Pentagon budget is $686 billion and will be higher next year, Congress earlier in the decade slapped caps on domestic and defense spending and could return to an era of fiscal austerity as the budget deficit increases. — Sig Christenson, ExpressNews.com, "KC-46 tanker has been ‘frustrating,’ acting Air Force secretary says," 3 Aug. 2019 But councillors draw a parallel with austerity, where the government outsourced the blame for cuts by forcing local councils to decide what to axe. — The Economist, "A rebellion against house-building spells trouble for the Tories," 17 Aug. 2019 Eight years of radical austerity, under Governor Phil Bryant, who is term-limited this year, Reeves, and a unified Republican legislature have had predictably dire consequences. — Bob Moser, The New Yorker, "Mississippi’s Race for Governor Tests the Limits of Conservatism," 2 Aug. 2019 My theory of Republican electoral success is partly that the party has gotten away with a more astringent fiscal policy in the past, more austerity, more costs are slowing the growth of government. — Nr Staff, National Review, "The Editors Podcast: Restarts, Rallies, and Regulations," 22 June 2019 The UK Conservative party, which has been running the government since 2010, seems ready to reverse one of the defining traits of its tenure, fiscal austerity, and adopt a policy at the opposite extreme. — Eshe Nelson, Quartz, "The UK Conservative party has lost its bloody mind (fiscally speaking)," 13 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'austerity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for austerity
austerity
noun
English Language Learners Definition of austerity
: a simple and plain quality : an austere quality
: a situation in which there is not much money and it is spent only on things that are necessary
: things that are done to live in a simple and plain way
See the full definition for austerity in the English Language Learners Dictionary
austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty
| \ ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē
\
\
Kids Definition of austerity
: lack of all luxury
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