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Glite Dictionary
exiguity

exiguity

9.9
A very small amount that is not enough
  • noun
  • /ˌɛɡzɪˈɡjuːɪti/
  • Formal
translation icon : exigüidad
  • The exiguity of his resources made the task much more difficult.

Examples

  • Due to the exiguity of evidence, the case remained unsolved.

  • The exiguity of available funds limited their ability to expand the project.

  • The artist was forced to work with an exiguity of materials.

  • The exiguity of resources made it difficult for the team to succeed.

  • Her room was filled with the exiguity of space.

  • Her team struggled because of the exiguity of manpower during the busy season.

  • The exiguity of options in the small town made finding a job difficult.

Synonyms

meagerness
vsexiguity
  • US
1 7.0

A very small amount of something that is not enough

is a more formal or literary term for that lack
leanness
vsexiguity
1 4.4

A small amount of something that is not enough

is a more formal or abstract term for that insufficiency
poorness
vsexiguity
1 5.3

A state of having low quality or too little of something

focuses only on lack of amount rather than on quality
scantness
vsexiguity
7.7

A small amount of something that is not enough

is a more formal term for that same insufficiency
scantiness
vsexiguity
8.8

A small amount of something that is not enough

is a more formal label for that shortage
meagreness
vsexiguity
8.1

A very small amount of something that is not enough

is used in more formal contexts for the same shortage

Antonyms

abundance
91 3.3

A large amount of something, more than you need

plentifulness
1 3.5

A large amount of things or resources that is more than enough

How Little

scarcity
29 4.4
exiguity
  • Formal
9.9
sufficiency
20 5.9
abundance
91 3.3

Surface Forms

exiguity singular
exiguities plural

Morphology

exiguity = exiguous (semi-transparent) = exiguous + ity

Formed by the regular noun-forming suffix '-ity' on 'exiguous', but 'exiguous' is rare and unfamiliar to many learners, so the relation is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Exiguity comes from the Latin word exiguus, which means 'small' or 'scant'. So exiguity simply means the 'smallness' or 'not enough' of something, which is why we use it for a tiny amount or a lack of resources.