scanty

/ˈskænti/

//ˈskænti// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"scanty" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scanty” is uncommon English (frequency #63,977 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#63,977
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent.

Key facts for scanty
PropertyValue
Headwordscanty
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈskænti/
Letters6
Frequency rank#63,977
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scanty” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). scanty lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

scanty is uncommon English at frequency #63,977 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈskænti/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for scanty in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From scant + -y. The correct English form is scanty, spelled S-C-A-N-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent.
  2. 2
    Sparing; niggardly; parsimonious; stingy.

Etymology

From scant + -y.

This word in other languages

escaso(Español)maigre(Français)dürftig(Deutsch)escasso(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "scanty"?
"scanty" is spelled S-C-A-N-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskænti/.
What does "scanty" mean?
As an adjective, "scanty" means: Somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent.
How do you pronounce "scanty"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scanty" is /ˈskænti/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "scanty"?
From scant + -y. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “scanty”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-A-N-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈskænti/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list