adjective
Uncommon
scant
skant
Scant (adjective) means Barely enough; in short supply. Example: “They survived on scant rations for weeks.”
adjective
1
Barely enough; in short supply.
"They survived on scant rations for weeks."
"The report gave scant attention to the victims."
2
Just short of the stated amount; a little less than exact.
"The recipe calls for a scant cup of flour."
How to use scant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot quite enough of something — a small, insufficient amount.
Easily confused with
scantly
scanty →
Common pairings
scant regard
scant resources
scant evidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- scants
- Third person singular
- scants
- Past tense
- scanted
- Comparative
- scanter
- Superlative
- scantest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They survived on _____ rations for weeks.
Etymology
From Old Norse skammr, meaning "short" — the same ancient root that gives us the idea of something falling just short.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for scant
See all rhymes for scant →Frequently asked questions
What does “scant” mean?
The word “scant” means barely enough; in short supply. In plain terms, not quite enough of something — a small, insufficient amount.
How do you pronounce “scant”?
“Scant” is pronounced skant (/skænt/ in IPA).
How do you use “scant” in a sentence?
Here is “scant” used in a sentence: “They survived on scant rations for weeks.”
What is the opposite of “scant”?
The opposite of “scant” — its antonyms — are ample and plenty.
What part of speech is “scant”?
“Scant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “scant” come from?
The word “scant” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse skammr, meaning "short" — the same ancient root that gives us the idea of something falling just short.
Is “scant” a common word?
“Scant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “scant” have?
“Scant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: barely enough; in short supply.
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