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
Italy, with its revolving-door governments, and Greece, with its bailouts and austerity hangovers.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Canada’s economic house was put in order via austerity in the mid-90s.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Milei, elected in 2023, has pushed austerity measures that have slashed public spending, ended central bank money printing and brought inflation down from 211 percent to roughly 32 percent in under a year.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
But the story Sunday was very different, and sent a clear message following two years of austerity measures that drastically cut public spending, and helped drive down chronically high inflation.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
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Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Canada’s economic house was put in order via austerity in the mid-90s.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Milei, elected in 2023, has pushed austerity measures that have slashed public spending, ended central bank money printing and brought inflation down from 211 percent to roughly 32 percent in under a year.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
But the story Sunday was very different, and sent a clear message following two years of austerity measures that drastically cut public spending, and helped drive down chronically high inflation.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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