paucity

noun

pau·​ci·​ty ˈpȯ-sə-tē How to pronounce paucity (audio)
1
: smallness of number : fewness
2
: smallness of quantity : dearth

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Learn a Little About Paucity

Paucity refers to "littleness" in numbers (as in "a paucity of facts") or quantity ("a paucity of common sense"). The word comes from paucus, Latin for "little."

Examples of paucity in a Sentence

If you had one of those Yugoslav names with a paucity of vowels, you might sprinkle in a few … Calvin Trillin, Time, 22 May 2000
For my part, I find increasingly that I miss the simplicity, the almost willful paucity, of the English way of doing things. Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
This relative paucity of freeloaders and deadbeats means that rookie Americans, as a group, more than pay their way. Jaclyn Fierman, Fortune, 9 Aug. 1993
a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This may be because of fear of resistance or just paucity of time as leaders dynamically react to ongoing change and disruption. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 England have gone from an abundance to a paucity of wingers seemingly overnight. Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025 Slow pace on film sales, a paucity of buzzy titles compared to years when films from CODA to The Big Sick and Manchester By The Sea, Birth of a Nation and Palm Springs sold for huge amounts. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2025 The recent full moon in the same region of the sky (Canis Major) had led to a paucity of observations, which resulted in a gap in observations. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paucity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English paucite, from Latin paucitat-, paucitas, from paucus little — more at few

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paucity was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Paucity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paucity. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

paucity

noun
pau·​ci·​ty ˈpȯ-sət-ē How to pronounce paucity (audio)
: smallness of number or quantity : scarcity
a paucity of experience

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