WordValeausterity
harsh cuts to government spending
In more detail
1. (noun) the quality of being severe, strict, or without comfort or luxury
2. (noun) government policies that reduce spending and limit economic growth, usually to reduce debt
Examples
- 1. The monastery was known for its austerity, with monks living in small, bare rooms.
- 2. The government's austerity measures included cuts to education and healthcare.
How to use austerity
Austerity has two primary senses: a personal/stylistic quality (severity and absence of comfort) and an economic policy sense (government spending cuts). The economic sense has become increasingly common since the 2008 financial crisis. Both senses convey a sense of necessary hardship or discipline, distinguishing it from the purely negative connotation of deprivation.
Common phrases
- fiscal austerity
- austerity measures
- austerity programme
- embrace austerity
- period of austerity
Synonyms
severity · strictness · frugality · restraint · sobriety
Opposites
luxury · indulgence · extravagance
Word family
austere (adjective) · austerely (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use austerity to mean merely 'being poor' or 'lacking money', but it specifically implies a deliberate choice to restrict spending or comfort, often for moral or strategic reasons, not simply an absence of wealth.
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