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
But in Argentina, a harsh austerity program under libertarian President Javier Milei may have hobbled the country’s ability to respond to the fires, researchers said, citing budget cuts to firefighting crews, a lack of planning and deregulation of tourism activities in Patagonia’s national parks.
—
Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Puerto Ricans are told to endure austerity, accept cuts, and trust institutions, while watching those institutions protect the very actors who helped engineer the crisis.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Antiques layered into a comfortable, practical palette help strike the balance between austerity and warmth.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
While deficit reduction is necessary, the CRFB warned that rapid implementation of such austerity measures during a weak economy could trigger the worst economic contraction in nearly a century.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Puerto Ricans are told to endure austerity, accept cuts, and trust institutions, while watching those institutions protect the very actors who helped engineer the crisis.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Antiques layered into a comfortable, practical palette help strike the balance between austerity and warmth.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
While deficit reduction is necessary, the CRFB warned that rapid implementation of such austerity measures during a weak economy could trigger the worst economic contraction in nearly a century.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/austerity. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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