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
Sheinbaum’s allies pointed out that the line had been built long before her time—and that López Obrador had imposed stringent austerity measures, gutting institutions across the government.
—
Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Greece started its golden visa program in 2013 to stabilize housing prices and stimulate growth in a country facing a recession, skyrocketing unemployment, and austerity measures imposed by international lenders.
—Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Bond vigilantes — who unload holdings in government securities to make a point about harmful policies — are viewed as driving countries like Italy and Greece to adopt austerity measures years ago.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
In mid-March, the university started taking austerity measures, including a temporary hiring pause and denying admission to graduate students waitlisted for this upcoming fall.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Greece started its golden visa program in 2013 to stabilize housing prices and stimulate growth in a country facing a recession, skyrocketing unemployment, and austerity measures imposed by international lenders.
—Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Bond vigilantes — who unload holdings in government securities to make a point about harmful policies — are viewed as driving countries like Italy and Greece to adopt austerity measures years ago.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
In mid-March, the university started taking austerity measures, including a temporary hiring pause and denying admission to graduate students waitlisted for this upcoming fall.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 17 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 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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