Meaning & use

scarce

adjective·Everyday

Not easily available or found in sufficient amounts; in short supply.

See it in a sentence

Fresh water became scarce across the region during the long summer drought.

Jobs were scarce in the small town after the factory closed down.

A note on using this word

Scarce usually describes a temporary shortage relative to demand, while rare often describes something inherently uncommon.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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