meager

Meager is an adjective that describes something small in amount, quantity, quality, or extent, often with a sense of insufficiency. It is commonly used to express a critical or disappointed view, as in a meager wage, meager rations, or meager evidence. The word can apply to material resources as well as more abstract qualities, such as a meager diet or a meager argument. In many contexts the judgment implied by meager relates to a standard or need that is expected to be higher.

Meager comes from Middle French maigre, from Latin macer meaning lean or thin. The spelling meagre is the British variant, while meager is standard in American English. The two spellings are largely interchangeable, depending on regional usage. The adverbial form meagerly exists but is rare and can sound awkward; most writers avoid it in favor of rephrasing to convey the same idea.

Use and nuance: meager often carries a stronger negative connotation than simply small or scant, implying that something falls short of what is appropriate, necessary, or hoped for. Related terms include scanty, sparse, paltry, and insufficient; antonyms include abundant, ample, plentiful, and bountiful. While applicable to fields such as economics and nutrition, meager is most commonly used in evaluative contexts where resources, outcomes, or efforts are judged as inadequate.