WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
scant•y /ˈskænti/USA pronunciation
adj., -i•er, -i•est, n., pl. -ies.
adj.
n.
scant•i•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- not enough in amount, extent, or degree:a scanty little bathing suit.
n.
- Clothing scanties, [plural] very brief underpants, esp. for women.
scant•i•ness, n. [uncountable]
scant•y
(skan′tē),USA pronunciation adj., scant•i•er, scant•i•est. n., pl. scant•ies.
adj.
n.
scant′i•ly, adv.
scant′i•ness, n.
adj.
- scant in amount, quantity, etc.;
barely sufficient. - meager;
not adequate. - lacking amplitude in extent or compass.
n.
- Clothing scanties, very brief underpants, esp. for women.
- 1650–60; scant + -y1; (def. 4) blend of, blended scanty and panties
scant′i•ness, n.
- 1. 2. Scanty, meager, sparse refer to insufficiency or deficiency in quantity, number, etc. Scanty denotes smallness or insufficiency of quantity, number, supply, etc.:a scanty supply of food.Meager indicates that something is poor, stinted, or inadequate:meager fare; a meager income.Sparse applies particularly to that which grows thinly or is thinly strewn or sown, often over a wide area:sparse vegetation; a sparse population.
- 1. 2. plentiful, ample.
'scantily' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):