# austerity

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɔˈstɛɹɪti/ · frequency rank #16,844

## Definitions
1. Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline.
2. Freedom from adornment; plainness; severe simplicity.
3. A policy of deficit-cutting, which by definition requires lower spending, higher taxes, or both.
4. Sourness and harshness to the taste.

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek αὐστηρότης (austērótēs, “bitter, harsh”). Morphologically austere + -ity.

## Common misspellings (13)
`asuterity`, `ausetrity`, `aussterity`, `austeirty`, `austeritty`, `austerityy`, `austeriyt`, `austerrity`, `austertiy`, `austreity`, `austterity`, `autserity`, `uasterity`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/austerity