What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rare
Example
The museum has a rare collection of ancient artifacts. [rare: adjective]
Example
It's rare to see snow in this part of the country. [rare: adjective]
scarce
Example
Water became scarce during the drought. [scarce: adjective]
Example
The store had to ration the scarce supplies of toilet paper. [scarce: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scarce is more commonly used than rare in everyday language. Scarce is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rare is less common and refers to something that is uncommon or unusual.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rare and scarce?
Both rare and scarce can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but rare may be more commonly used in formal writing or speech due to its positive connotation.
