austerity measure
15
7.0
- noun
- /ɔːˈstɛrɪti ˈmɛʒər/
- Formal
:
medida de austeridad
- The government introduced new austerity measures to reduce the national deficit and control public spending.
- impose austerity measures
- implement austerity measures
- adopt austerity measures
Examples
-
The Bloc opposed Martin's 1995 budget on the grounds that the proposed austerity measures would disproportionately harm residents of Quebec (Loubier 1995).
Academic text (2017) -
Although debt rescheduling was regarded as a technical problem, the implementation of austerity measures was an act of political will.
Academic text (1994) -
Second, tough austerity measures make coalition building in support of reform difficult.
Academic text (1996) -
As early as 1978, Turkey had adopted new austerity measures to cope with the economic crisis.
Academic text (1992) -
The Greek Parliament has adopted the austerity measures and the 2013 budget requested by the Troika.
Blog text (6) -
Popular discontent results from economic hardships caused by austerity measures.
Academic text (1996) -
The Commission expects Athens to announce new austerity measures this year to meet its bailout targets.
Blog text (14) -
In the end, Peru had little alternative but to accept IMF prescriptions and austerity measures.
Academic text (1994) -
Economy: Italy's rising public debt weighs on its economic growth, and austerity measures blunt the recovery.
Blog text (12) -
Beginning in February 1985, a series of austerity measures were implemented to counteract spiraling inflation and a growing budget deficit.
Academic text (1990)
Synonyms
97
7.4
Government policy of cutting public spending and services to reduce debt
79
3.3
A decision by a government or organization to use less money
57
2.8
Less money given to a department or service in a budget
52
3.7
A smaller amount of money or resources that an organization uses to lower costs
26
8.9
Automatic cuts to public spending when budget goals are not met
2
8.1
A cut in spending by a business or government to save money
Antonyms
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derived from combining 'austerity' (reduced government spending) with 'measure' (a formal action or policy): it denotes a policy enacted to implement austerity. This straightforward noun+noun composition is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun austerity measure comes from the word austerity, which comes from austere and means strict and plain, and from measure meaning an action. Imagine a family that stops buying luxuries and lives simply. Governments use 'austerity measures' to 'cut public spending' in the same way.