Word of the day · 6 June 2026
paucity
/ˈpɔːsɪti/
noun
A smallness of number or quantity; scarcity.
In a sentence
- A paucity of witnesses slowed the investigation.
- Critics noted a paucity of new ideas in the sequel.
- The region faces a paucity of affordable clinics.
In an image
Origin
From Latin paucitas (fewness), from paucus (few, little).
History
Paucity entered English as a formal word for scarcity. Scientists and policy writers still prefer it when fewness is the point: a paucity of evidence, a paucity of candidates. It is cooler than shortage and less emotional than dearth. Used well, it names a measured lack.
Nearby words
scarcity · dearth · shortage
Too little of what you need, stated without drama.