dearth

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdɜːrθ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɝθ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(dûrth)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
dearth /dɜrθ/USA pronunciation   n. [count;
usually singular]
  1. a scarcity or lack:a dearth of good writers of computer manuals.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
dearth  (dûrth),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. an inadequate supply;
    scarcity;
    lack:There is a dearth of good engineers.
  2. scarcity and dearness of food;
    famine.
  • Middle English derthe. See dear1, -th1 1200–50
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged shortage, want, paucity, insufficiency.
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged abundance, plenty, sufficiency; surplus.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dearth / dɜːθ/
  1. an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity
Etymology: 13th Century: derthe, from dēr dear
'dearth' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
drought - famine - lack - paucity - penury - poverty - scarcity - want

Forum discussions with the word(s) "dearth" in the title:


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