Dearth: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'dearth' when you want to emphasize a significant absence or a rare appearance of something, often suggesting critical or problematic shortfall.

• There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city
• The dearth of evidence made it difficult to solve the case

Use 'scarcity' to describe a situation where something is difficult to obtain or very few in number, often implying economic or survival implications.

• The scarcity of clean water is a major issue in many developing countries
• Due to scarcity, the price of oil has increased significantly

Use 'shortage' when referring to a shortfall that impacts supply and demand, often causing inconvenience or problems.

• The gas shortage led to long lines at the pump
• There is a shortage of skilled workers in the industry

Choose 'insufficiency' when indicating that the quantity or quality of something is not enough to meet a requirement or standard.

• The insufficiency of funds caused the project to be delayed
• There is evidence of an insufficiency in training among the staff

Use 'lack' for general, informal expression of something missing or not present in needed amounts, often also carrying connotations of inadequacy.

• There is a lack of water in the reservoir this year
• His lack of experience was evident during the interview

Apply 'deficiency' when referring to a measurable or specific shortage, often used in technical, medical, or scientific contexts.

• Vitamin D deficiency can lead to health problems
• The report highlighted a deficiency in the company's compliance measures