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
David Kaplan approached Etude 15 with austerity, shaping its surging waves of sound with earnest precision, and embraced the shifting patterns of Etude 16’s off-kilter 7/8 meter with poise and control.
—
Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
But maybe Musk is onto something — maybe fiscal austerity could be enough.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
It’s drawn a line under the years when French government debt was considered a good, high-quality alternative to German debt, the region’s haven asset due to Berlin’s historic fiscal austerity.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Might being raised amid this architectural austerity have inspired the young Rev. Robert Prevost to seek out missionary locales such as Peru for his ministry?
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
But maybe Musk is onto something — maybe fiscal austerity could be enough.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
It’s drawn a line under the years when French government debt was considered a good, high-quality alternative to German debt, the region’s haven asset due to Berlin’s historic fiscal austerity.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Might being raised amid this architectural austerity have inspired the young Rev. Robert Prevost to seek out missionary locales such as Peru for his ministry?
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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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