- Today's Word
Paucity
PAW-sih-tee
Definition
(noun) The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity.
Example
The paucity of evidence made it impossible to reach a definitive conclusion about the case.
Word Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French “paucite” or Latin “paucitas,” from “paucus” meaning “few.”
Fun Fact
Paucity sounds more sophisticated than “lack” or “shortage,” making it perfect for formal contexts where you want to sound measured while pointing out insufficiency. Academic reviewers love deploying paucity to criticize thin research: “The paucity of sources undermines this argument.” The word specifically suggests not just absence but frustratingly inadequate presence—enough to notice what’s missing. Economic reports describe paucity of jobs, scientific papers note paucity of data, and social critics identify paucity of imagination. Unlike “scarcity,” which can be neutral, paucity carries implicit criticism—when something exists in paucity, there should be more. It’s the verbal equivalent of gesturing at empty shelves while looking disappointed.
