Scant Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms scant American [skant] / skænt /

    adjective

    scanter, scantest

    1. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; not abundant; almost inadequate.

      to do scant justice.

    2. limited; meager; not large.

      a scant amount.

      Synonyms: restricted, small, scanty

    3. barely amounting to as much as indicated.

      a scant two hours; a scant cupful.

    4. having an inadequate or limited supply (usually followed byof ).

      scant of breath.

      Synonyms: deficient, wanting, lacking, short

    verb (used with object)

    1. to make scant; diminish.

      Synonyms: curtail, decrease, reduce, lessen

    2. to stint the supply of; withhold.

      Synonyms: scrimp, skimp, restrict, limit

    3. to treat slightly or inadequately.

      Synonyms: neglect, slight

    adverb

    1. Scot. and North England Dialect. scarcely; barely; hardly.

    scant British / skænt /

    adjective

    1. scarcely sufficient; limited

      he paid her scant attention

    2. (prenominal) slightly short of the amount indicated; bare

      a scant ten inches

    3. having a short supply (of)

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    verb

    1. to limit in size or quantity

    2. to provide with a limited or inadequate supply of

    3. to treat in a slighting or inadequate manner

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    adverb

    1. scarcely; barely

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Other Word Forms

    • scantly adverb
    • scantness noun

    Etymology

    Origin of scant

    1325–75; Middle English (adj.) < Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr short

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    It was the Celtic board who created a situation where their manager was left with scant options upfront.

    From BBC

    The search, now going on for nearly a week, has turned up scant clues, primarily a video believed to be of her recorded the day she disappeared.

    From BBC

    The post was scant on details other than the event took place over five days in and around the couple’s home in Palm Beach Gardens.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Previous generations grew up watching reruns of “The Brady Bunch” and “I Love Lucy” after school, when their choices on broadcast TV were scant.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Both believe, despite scant evidence so far, that AI is on the verge of replacing human knowledge workers.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Related Words

    • insufficient
    • mere
    • paltry
    • scanty
    • skimpy
    • slight
    • sparse

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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