paucity

[paw-si-tee]

noun

1. smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness.

   a country with a paucity of resources.

2. smallness or insufficiency of number; fewness.

paucity

/ ˈpɔːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. smallness of quantity; insufficiency; dearth

2. smallness of number; fewness

Word History and Origins

Origin of paucity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English paucite, from Latin paucitās “fewness,” derivative of paucus “few”; -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of paucity¹

C15: from Latin paucitās scarcity, from paucus few

Example Sentences

By comparison, there is a paucity of reporting about how those policies impact the day-to-day emotional lives and health of actual Americans and their lived experiences.

From Salon

Despite the frequent paucity of BLM cartographic resources, apparently Jackson never got lost or worried about dropping the thread of a trail.

From Los Angeles Times

England's paucity of high-quality defenders, certainly compared to their riches in attack, may ultimately inspire similar caution, especially in an environment that naturally breeds restrictive thinking.

From BBC

Sadly, some people will consider that competency as more of a strike than the paucity of emotional resonance that places her show a step or two above a Williams-Sonoma catalogue.

From Salon

Furthermore, only a paucity of studies deal with the effects of plastics on the atmosphere and the cryosphere, which is that part of the Earth's surface where water is present as snow or ice.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• dearth 
• insufficiency 
• smallness www.thesaurus.com