drought

noun

variants or less commonly drouth
1
: a period of dryness especially when prolonged
specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth
resistant to drought
2
: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired
a drought of creativity
droughtiness noun
droughty
ˈdrau̇-tē
adjective

Examples of drought in a Sentence

The drought caused serious damage to crops. a period of drought that lasted several years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The timing and intensity of peak foliage vary from year to year, depending on several factors, such as drought conditions, rainfall, temperature, soil content, and the types of trees, as well as cloud cover. Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025 The slipup matters because this stretch of ocean generates atmospheric waves that have been connected to droughts from California to Africa. Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 Plants are sensitive to heat and do not tolerate drought. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025 The western United States is running drier than average during a 30-year drought, which can create a feedback loop of higher temperatures and lower precipitation. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drought

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English drūgath, from drūgian to dry up; akin to Old English drȳge dry — more at dry

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drought was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drought. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

drought

noun
variants also drouth
ˈdrau̇t How to pronounce drought (audio)
ˈdrau̇th
: a long period of dry weather
droughty
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on drought

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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