Definition

The quality of being in short supply or not easily available.

Example

The scarceness of water in the desert makes it a valuable resource.

Conversation

Have you noticed the scarceness of certain fruits lately?

Yeah, I was surprised to find that the store was out of strawberries.

It's strange how quickly things can change; I wonder why there's such a scarceness.

Maybe it's due to the weather affecting the harvests this season.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Scarceness → It is formed from "scarce" (from Old French *escarc*, meaning rare or insufficient) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "scarceness" refers to the state of being rare or insufficient in quantity.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'rare' or 'insufficient' — that's what scarceness means, the quality of being scarce.

Visually Confused Words