What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scanty
Example
The restaurant served a scanty portion of food for the price. [scanty: adjective]
Example
She wore a scanty bikini to the beach. [scanty: adjective]
Example
The village had a scanty water supply during the drought. [scanty: adjective]
scarce
Example
Fresh water was scarce in the desert. [scarce: adjective]
Example
During the pandemic, toilet paper became scarce in stores. [scarce: adjective]
Example
Jobs were scarce in the small town. [scarce: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scarce is more commonly used than scanty in everyday language. Scarce is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scanty is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scanty and scarce?
Scarce is more formal than scanty and is commonly used in academic or professional settings. Scanty is more informal and is commonly used in casual conversation or in creative writing.
