# scarcity

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈskɛɹsɪti/ · frequency rank #17,952

## Definitions
1. The condition of something being scarce or deficient.
2. An inadequate amount of something; a shortage.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English scarsite, from Old Northern French escarsete; by surface analysis, scarce + -ity.

## Easily confused with
- **scarcely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scarcely-vs-scarcity)

## Common misspellings (13)
`csarcity`, `sacrcity`, `scacrity`, `scarccity`, `scarcitty`, `scarcityy`, `scarciyt`, `scarctiy`, `scaricty`, `scarrcity`, `sccarcity`, `scracity`, `sscarcity`

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