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
Example Sentences
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 And the elegant austerity of Zeller’s direction makes the outcome a given, which turns The Son into a punishing slog. 
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 But the cuts still have proved insufficient for the austerity minded moderate, who in recent days had grown ever more skittish amid reports of record-high prices. Tony Romm And Jeff Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 15 July 2022 The austerity of the institutional archive meets the abundance of the family archive, bringing his ancestor back into the circle of kin. New York Times, 17 June 2022 The austerity of Loznitsa’s approach is hardly new. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 June 2022 The austerity and threadbare nature of the times is reflected in Mildred’s modest existence as an observer of others. Alexander Mccall Smith, WSJ, 3 June 2022 The decorations on the Abdullatif Mosque from 1371 contrast dramatically with the austerity of the churches. Lisa Morrow, CNN, 10 May 2022 The fiscal austerity of the recent past has left large portions of the United States broke. Robin Kaiser-schatzlein, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2022 And hour by nervous hour, one more thing became clear: Chelsea, one of Europe’s leading teams and a contender for another Champions League title this season, was suddenly facing a worrisome future marked by austerity, uncertainty and decay. New York Times, 10 Mar. 2022 See More
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 But the cuts still have proved insufficient for the austerity minded moderate, who in recent days had grown ever more skittish amid reports of record-high prices. Tony Romm And Jeff Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 15 July 2022 The austerity of the institutional archive meets the abundance of the family archive, bringing his ancestor back into the circle of kin. New York Times, 17 June 2022 The austerity of Loznitsa’s approach is hardly new. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 June 2022 The austerity and threadbare nature of the times is reflected in Mildred’s modest existence as an observer of others. Alexander Mccall Smith, WSJ, 3 June 2022 The decorations on the Abdullatif Mosque from 1371 contrast dramatically with the austerity of the churches. Lisa Morrow, CNN, 10 May 2022 The fiscal austerity of the recent past has left large portions of the United States broke. Robin Kaiser-schatzlein, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2022 And hour by nervous hour, one more thing became clear: Chelsea, one of Europe’s leading teams and a contender for another Champions League title this season, was suddenly facing a worrisome future marked by austerity, uncertainty and decay. New York Times, 10 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see austere
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing austerity
Kids Definition
austerity
noun
aus·ter·i·ty ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē
: lack of all luxury
austerity
noun
1
as in sacrifice
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites They moved off the grid to live a life of austerity. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sacrifice
- frugality
- restraint
- asceticism
- discipline
- mortification
- temperance
- avoidance
- self-denial
- reasonableness
- abnegation
- reasonability
- constraint
- abstention
- sensibleness
- rationality
- self-mastery
- temperateness
- control
- eschewal
- self-containment
- forbearance
- self-discipline
- soberness
- abstinence
- sensibility
- self-command
- sobriety
- moderation
- teetotalism
- self-control
- middle-of-the-roadism
- moderateness
- rationalness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extremism
- excess
- extremeness
- extremity
- superfluity
- unrestraint
- irrationality
- radicalness
- unreasonableness
- excessiveness
- unconstraint
- immoderation
- intemperance
- insobriety
- immoderacy
- immoderateness
- intemperateness
2
as in asceticism
the quality or state of being stern and serious in manner or appearance His air of austerity tends to put others off. Synonyms & Similar Words
- asceticism
- gruffness
- severity
- dourness
- monasticism
- obduracy
- steadfastness
- implacability
- austereness
- pitilessness
- determination
- callousness
- rigidity
- obstinacy
- sternness
- obdurateness
- stubbornness
- strictness
- resolve
- hard-heartedness
- inflexibility
- stringency
- rigidness
- firmness
- harshness
- rigorousness
- exactingness
- hardness
- rigor
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indulgence
- tolerance
- softness
- forbearance
- patience
- tenderness
- kindness
- flexibility
- gentleness
- lenience
- mildness
- laxness
3
as in deprivation
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions His family spent years living in austerity during the recession. Synonyms & Similar Words
- deprivation
- misery
- bankruptcy
- poverty
- privation
- belt-tightening
- pinching
- emergency
- straitening
- wretchedness
- woe
- exigency
- insolvency
- gutter
- impoverishment
- destitution
- penury
- rainy day
- necessity
- impecuniosity
- beggary
- pauperism
- indigence
- impecuniousness
- neediness
- penuriousness
- poorness
- destituteness
- need
- want
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prosperity
- luxury
- opulence
- affluence
- richness
- wealth
- wealthiness