Meaning & use
paucity
Last updated
Meaning
nounsingularformal
A formal word for a very small amount or number, especially of something needed or expected.
Grammar: Almost always singular with of: a paucity of evidence, not paucities.
Patterns
- a paucity of something
- relative paucity
- a paucity of evidence/detail/resources
The case failed because of a paucity of reliable evidence.
There was a surprising paucity of detail in the final report.
A paucity of clean water remains the village’s main problem.
Common combinations
- paucity of evidence
- The review noted a paucity of evidence for the claimed benefit.
- paucity of resources
- The program closed because of a paucity of resources.
- paucity of detail
- Applicants complained about the paucity of detail in the instructions.
- relative paucity
- The island has a relative paucity of public transport options.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scarcity
- Neutral word for too little availability; paucity is more formal and often emphasizes thinness or insufficiency.
- dearth
- Also formal and usually followed by of; it suggests an almost complete lack of something wanted.
- shortage
- Focuses on supply failing to meet need, common for workers, food, or housing.
- lack
- General and less formal; paucity sounds more measured and written.
Opposites
Commonly confused: paucity or parity? paucity or scarcity?
paucity vs parity
Paucity means scarcity; parity means equality or equal status, and the spelling differs.
paucity vs scarcity
Close in meaning, but scarcity is the everyday neutral noun; paucity is formal and usually singular.
Practice
Choose the correct completion: “The report was criticized for a paucity ___ reliable data.”
Choose one answer.
Paucity is normally followed by of to name the thing lacking. The other prepositions do not form the standard pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “paucity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.