scantiness

Scantiness is the quality or state of being scarce, meager, or in short supply. It describes an amount, degree, or extent that is smaller than what is needed, expected, or typical. The term can refer to tangible quantities such as food, water, or resources, as well as to data, evidence, or opportunities that are inadequate or insufficient.

In practical use, scantiness often signals constraints in planning or evaluation. In economics, logistics, or disaster preparedness, it characterizes limited inventories or scarce inputs. In science and research, scantiness of data or sample size can affect the reliability of conclusions. The word can also describe a qualitative impression, for example the scantiness of attention given to an issue.

Etymology: The noun is formed from the adjective scant, whose origins lie in Old English and related Germanic languages. The sense of limited quantity appears in English texts from the late medieval period onward.

See also: scarcity, paucity, meagerness, insufficiency.