Dearth means a shortagea situation where there is not enough of something or lack of something, especially when there is not enough of it to meet a need. It is a formalused in serious or official language, not casual conversation word, often used to talk about missing people, resourcessupplies, money, or other useful things available for use, or information.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɝːθ/
Easy pronunciation: DERTH (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, with the stress on the whole word.
Noun meaning a lack or insufficient amount of something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dearth Meaning
a lack of something; too little of it
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an insufficient quantity or number
Example: There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- paucity — A close formal synonym for a lack or small amount of something.
- shortage — Works well in everyday use, though it often suggests a practical lack of supply.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Dearth
Meaning 2
a serious lack of something needed
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an acute insufficiency
Example: The region faced a dearth of clean water after the drought.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- famine — Can fit this sense when the lack is extreme, especially of food, but it is narrower and more specific than dearth.
- shortage — A natural synonym when something is in short supply.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dearth Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- paucity
- shortage
an acute insufficiency
- famine
- shortage
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using dearth as if it means a complete absence. It usually means a shortage or lack, not zero.
- Using famine for any shortage. Famine is much stronger and usually refers to extreme lack of food.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dearth mean?
Dearth means a shortage or lack of something, especially when there is not enough to satisfy a need.
What are synonyms for dearth?
Common synonyms include paucity and shortage. In stronger contexts, famine may work, but it is more specific and much more severe.
Is dearth a positive word?
No. It usually has a negative meaning because it describes a lack or shortage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.