dearth

[ durth ]

noun

1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack:

   There is a dearth of good engineers.

   Synonyms: insufficiency, paucity, want, shortage

   Antonyms: surplus, sufficiency, plenty, abundance

2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

dearth

/ dɜːθ /

noun

1. an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

First recorded in 1200–50, dearth is from the Middle English word derthe. See dear ¹, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

C13: derthe , from dēr dear

Example Sentences

Unfortunately, Johnson and Evans have a dearth of screen chemistry.

From Los Angeles Times

The biggest barrier to the adoption of this strain of fungus is the dearth of places to buy the spores needed to grow it in the U.S.

From Salon

“We have been concerned for years about the dearth of programming and group and individual therapy for people struggling with mental illness in the jails,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

The new class of free agents includes lots of starting pitching when starting pitching is less important than ever and a dearth of leverage relievers when leverage relievers are coveted more than ever.

From Los Angeles Times

Influencers waxed eloquent about their love for the band and there was no dearth of Coldplay memes.

From BBC

Related Words

• absence
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• lack
• paucity
• shortage

More About Dearth

What does dearth mean?

A dearth of something is a lack or scarcity of it.

The word is especially used in serious situations in which there is a shortage of something important. It is usually followed by of and the thing that is lacking, as in a dearth of resources or a dearth of clean water. 

Much less commonly, dearth is used in a more specific way to refer to a scarcity of food—a famine.

Example: The dearth of teachers has resulted in large class sizes.

Where does dearth come from?

The first records of the word dearth come from the 1200s. It comes from the Middle English word derthe. It’s essentially a combination of the adjective dear, in its outdated sense of “scarce” or “difficult to get,” and the suffix -th, which is used to turn adjectives into nouns, as in strength and depth.

Dearth can be used in contexts involving both the shortage of tangible things, as in There’s a dearth of medical clinics in the region, and intangible ones, as in There’s a dearth of research on the subject. In any case, it usually involves a shortage that’s serious and could cause problems. The words lack and scarcity are close synonyms, but they’re less formal.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for dearth?

• lack
• scarcity
• shortage
• insufficiency 
• paucity
• famine

What are some words that share a root or word element with dearth? 

 

• dear

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing dearth?

 

• resources
• research
• information
• inadequate
• supply
• suffer
• available

How is dearth used in real life?

Dearth is a somewhat formal term, but it can be used in everyday conversation. It’s often used in a serious context.

My latest: In #Gaza, autism researchers battle a dearth of resources — and a wealth of misinformation and stigma https://t.co/Y4TB1yTR0l

— Claire Helen Cameron (@ClaireHCameron) May 16, 2016

The dearth of information coming out of the White House about Trump's health has sparked a flurry of rumors among Washington diplomats — and concerns that U.S. adversaries may take advantage of the moment.https://t.co/lLqQZpVOql via @KimDozierhttps://t.co/JAPGRn4vDK

— TIMEPolitics (@TIMEPolitics) October 3, 2020

There is a dearth of leadership in this country. The media is not immune to it.

— Sebenzile Nkambule (@SebeNkambule) December 19, 2019

 

 

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