First Known Use: 1600
Dictionary
scanty
adjective \ˈskan-tē\
: very small in size or amount
scant·i·erscant·i·est
Full Definition of SCANTY
: limited or less than sufficient in degree, quantity, or extent
— scant·i·ly \ˈskan-tə-lē\ adverb
— scant·i·ness \ˈskan-tē-nəs\ noun
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Origin of SCANTY
English dialect scant scanty supply, from Middle English, from Old Norse skamt, from neuter of skammr short
Related to SCANTY
Synonym Discussion of SCANTY
meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable. meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency <a meager portion of meat>. scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent <supplies too scanty to last the winter>. scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential <in January the daylight hours are scant>. skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency <tacky housing developments on skimpy lots>. spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity <a spare, concise style of writing>. sparse implies a thin scattering of units <a sparse population>.
SCANTY Defined for Kids
scanty
adjective \ˈskan-tē\
scant·i·erscant·i·est
Definition of SCANTY for Kids
: barely enough : lacking in size or quantity <a scanty harvest>
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Next Word in the Dictionary: ScapanorhynchusPrevious Word in the Dictionary: scant–o–graceAll Words Near: scanty
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