Dearth

Definition

A scarcity or insufficient supply of something — a shortage that is felt because what is missing is needed.

Beyond the definition

Dearth is scarcity with weight. A dearth of evidence. A dearth of imagination. A dearth of kindness. The word doesn't just mean 'not enough' — it implies the absence is consequential.

Origin & history

From Old English dēarth (dearness, costliness) — from dēar (dear, costly). Originally meant high price rather than scarcity, but shortage and high price often go together. Related to dear in both its senses: precious and expensive.

Example sentences

Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.

The researchers noted a dearth of long-term studies on the subject.

A dearth of qualified candidates forced the company to extend its search internationally.

There was no dearth of opinions, only a dearth of facts.

How to use it

This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”

Choose “Dearth” when the meaning fits your context: A scarcity or insufficient supply of something — a shortage that is felt because what is missing is needed.

Synonyms

scarcity, shortage, lack, paucity, insufficiency

Antonyms

abundance, surplus, plenty, profusion

Related words

• paucity
• scarcity
• deficit
• want

Dearth vs paucity

Both name a shortage, but with different emphasis. Dearth focuses on the felt absence — a dearth of imagination, a dearth of evidence — and carries emotional weight of something missing that matters. Paucity emphasises the inadequacy of the quantity relative to the need: a paucity of data means not enough to draw conclusions from. Dearth is the more evocative word; paucity is the more precise one.

Questions about this word

What does "Dearth" mean?

Dearth is noun meaning: A scarcity or lack of something.. A scarcity or insufficient supply of something — a shortage that is felt because what is missing is needed.

Where does the word "Dearth" come from?

From Old English dēarth (dearness, costliness) — from dēar (dear, costly). Originally meant high price rather than scarcity, but shortage and high price often go together. Related to dear in both its senses: precious and expensive.