adj
C2
Proficient
meager
MEE-guh
Meager (adj) means Poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. Example: “The refugees survived on a meager ration of rice and water.”
adj
1
Poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough.
"The refugees survived on a meager ration of rice and water."
"Her savings were too meager to cover the emergency repair."
2
Thin, with little flesh on the body.
"The stray dog looked meager after weeks without a proper meal."
How to use meager
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot enough of something — a small, disappointing amount, or a body that's too thin.
UK vs US
This is the standard American spelling; British English generally prefers "meagre".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
meager budget
meager wages
meager portion
meager resources
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like meager.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- meagers
- Past tense
- meagered
- Comparative
- meagerer
- Superlative
- meagerest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The refugees survived on a _____ ration of rice and water.
Etymology
From Old French maigre, from Latin macer ("thin, lean") — the same root that gives us "emaciated".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for meager
See all rhymes for meager →Frequently asked questions
What does “meager” mean?
The word “meager” means poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. In plain terms, not enough of something — a small, disappointing amount, or a body that's too thin.
How do you pronounce “meager”?
“Meager” is pronounced MEE-guh (/ˈmiɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “meager” in a sentence?
Here is “meager” used in a sentence: “The refugees survived on a meager ration of rice and water.”
What part of speech is “meager”?
“Meager” is an adjective.
Where does the word “meager” come from?
The word “meager” comes from Latin. From Old French maigre, from Latin macer ("thin, lean") — the same root that gives us "emaciated".
How many meanings does “meager” have?
“Meager” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include meager:
