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- Dictionaryausterity/ɔːˈstɛrɪti/
noun
- 1. sternness or severity of manner or attitude: "he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism" Similar Opposite
- 2. difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure: "the country was subjected to acute economic austerity" Similar Opposite
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the condition of living without unnecessary things and without comfort, with limited money or goods, or a practice, habit, or experience that is typical of this: The wartime austerity of my early years prepared me for later hardships. The austerities of life in a small rural community were not what I was used to. [ U ]
The meaning of AUSTERITY is the quality or state of being austere. How to use austerity in a sentence.
In economic policy, austerity is a set of political-economic policies that aim to reduce government budget deficits through spending cuts, tax increases, or a combination of both.
the state or quality of being austere. 2. (often plural) an austere habit, practice, or act. 3. a. reduced availability of luxuries and consumer goods, esp when brought about by government policy. b. (as modifier) an austerity budget.
Austerity means sternness, severity, or a state of extreme self-discipline or minimalistic living. Austerity is the noun form of the adjective austere, which most commonly means extremely stern or strict or without any frills or luxuries.
As well as describing a personal quality of sternness, it also means "a simple, plain manner" and "an extreme frugality." So you could talk about the austerity of a very plainly decorated room or the austerity you're forced to live with ever since your parents stopped giving you a weekly allowance.
[uncountable] the quality of being strict and serious in appearance or manner. He was noted for his austerity and authoritarianism. [uncountable] the fact of allowing no pleasures and little to make life comfortable. the austerity of the monks’ life.
AUSTERITY meaning: 1 : a simple and plain quality an austere quality; 2 : a situation in which there is not much money and it is spent only on things that are necessary often used before another noun.
Jun 2, 2024 · Noun. [edit] austerity (countable and uncountable, plural austerities) Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline. Freedom from adornment; plainness; severe simplicity. (economics) A policy of deficit-cutting, which by definition requires lower spending, higher taxes, or both.
The earliest known use of the noun austerity is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for austerity is from before 1425, in the Prick of Conscience . austerity is a borrowing from French .
