noun

scarcity

scarcity, shortage, dearth

There is a scarcity of clean water.

There is a scarcity of clean water.

a scarcity of ((sth.)) a situation in which something is not easy to find or get There is a scarcity of clean water.

Synonyms: shortage, lack, dearth; Antonyms: abundance, surplus

From the adjective 'scarce' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ity'.

The '-ity' ending turns the adjective 'scarce' into a noun representing the state of being scarce.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.