austerity
gb/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/ us/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/
B2
Inglés
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
formal
C1
action
1
government spending cuts policy
a government plan to spend less money (and sometimes raise taxes)
Patrón de uso:
austerity in [country/sector]; austerity for [group]; under austerity
Error frecuente:
Don’t use it for personal saving habits unless the context is clearly about a very strict, hardship lifestyle; in news it most often refers to government spending cuts.
Sinónimos
spending cuts (more specific and informal; focuses on reduced spending rather than the whole policy approach.)
|
fiscal tightening (more technical; emphasizes stricter budget policy in general.)
Antónimos
stimulus (government actions to boost the economy, often by increasing spending.)
|
expansionary spending (the opposite budget approach: spending more rather than cutting back.)
Colocaciones
austerity measures
|austerity policy
|austerity programme
|austerity plan
|fiscal austerity
|an austerity budget
|years of austerity
|post-austerity
|impose austerity
|end austerity
Temas
economics
|government
|politics
|business
Ejemplos
- After the financial crisis, the government introduced austerity to reduce the deficit.
- Many local services were cut during a decade of austerity.
- Critics argued that austerity slowed the recovery and widened inequality.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Austerity means the government spends less money.
- Austerity can lead to cuts in public services.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
property
2
sternness and lack of warmth
a serious, strict way of behaving that feels cold
Patrón de uso:
the austerity of [someone/something]
Error frecuente:
Austerity is a noun; the adjective is austere (not *auster).
Sinónimos
severity (more general; can be about rules, punishment, or appearance.)
|
sternness (highlights strictness in a person’s manner.)
Antónimos
warmth (suggests friendliness and emotional openness.)
|
leniency (opposite in terms of strictness and rule enforcement.)
Colocaciones
the austerity of his manner
|moral austerity
|judicial austerity
|an air of austerity
|a tone of austerity
|with austerity
|project austerity
|austerity and discipline
Temas
personality
|emotions
|social
Ejemplos
- There was an austerity in her voice that discouraged further questions.
- The principal’s austerity made the school feel intimidating.
- His speech mixed humor with moments of real austerity.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- His austerity made him seem cold.
- She spoke with austerity.
Sustantivo
B2
state
3
plain living with few comforts
a simple life without extra comfort or luxury
Patrón de uso:
live in austerity; the austerity of [a place/design]
Error frecuente:
This meaning is about simplicity and lack of comfort, not necessarily about being “cheap” or “low quality.”
Sinónimos
frugality (emphasizes careful spending rather than an overall stark lifestyle.)
|
simplicity (more positive/neutral; does not always imply hardship.)
Antónimos
luxury (suggests comfort and expensive pleasures.)
|
opulence (stronger than luxury; implies richness and display.)
Colocaciones
live in austerity
|a life of austerity
|monastic austerity
|spartan austerity
|the austerity of the room
|the austerity of the design
|self-imposed austerity
|material austerity
Temas
daily_life
|lifestyle
|design
Ejemplos
- They chose a year of austerity to pay off their debts.
- The cabin’s austerity appealed to her after years in a busy city.
- The museum’s interior has a calm austerity, with bare walls and natural light.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- After moving, they lived in austerity for a while.
- The room had a quiet austerity.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
action
4
religious self-denial and discipline
doing without pleasure or comfort for religious reasons
Patrón de uso:
religious austerity; practice austerity; austerity and fasting
Sinónimos
asceticism (the standard term; often broader and explicitly religious or philosophical.)
|
self-denial (more general; can be religious or personal.)
Antónimos
indulgence (enjoying pleasures rather than denying oneself.)
|
hedonism (a lifestyle centered on pleasure; a strong opposite.)
Colocaciones
religious austerity
|monastic austerity
|practice austerity
|austerity and fasting
|acts of austerity
|a tradition of austerity
Temas
religion
|lifestyle
|history
Ejemplos
- The monks embraced austerity as part of their spiritual practice.
- Her faith encouraged periods of austerity and fasting.
- The biography describes his early years of religious austerity.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Some monks live in austerity.
- He practiced austerity during Lent.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
austerity
AFI
GB/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/
US/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/
Sílabas y acento
aus - ter - ity (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ter)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: austerity
- Plural: austerities, austerity
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
an age of austerity
1/ən ˈeɪd͡ʒ əv ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
period marked by strict cutbacks
a time when many people must spend less
Ejemplos
- In an age of austerity, even popular programs faced funding cuts.
- The novel is set in an age of austerity after the war.
- Businesses adapted their strategies to an age of austerity.
austerity budget
1/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti bˈʌd͡ʒɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
budget focused on cutbacks
a government budget that cuts spending
Ejemplos
- The chancellor delivered an austerity budget that reduced departmental funding.
- Opposition parties rejected the austerity budget as unfair.
- An austerity budget can shift the cost of services onto households.
austerity drive
1/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti dɹˈaɪv/
fixed phrase
business
campaign to cut spending
a planned effort to spend less money
Ejemplos
- The company launched an austerity drive after profits fell.
- An austerity drive across the public sector reduced hiring and travel budgets.
- Managers were asked to find savings as part of the austerity drive.
austerity measures
1/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti mˈɛʒɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
official spending cuts and tax rises
government actions to spend less (and sometimes tax more)
Ejemplos
- The finance minister announced new austerity measures after the budget review.
- Austerity measures led to reductions in health and education spending.
- Several countries abandoned austerity measures once growth returned.
austerity programme
1/ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæm/
fixed phrase
formal
planned package of budget cuts
a government plan to reduce spending over time
Ejemplos
- The country agreed to an austerity programme as part of an international loan deal.
- The austerity programme included pay freezes and benefit reforms.
- Protests grew as the austerity programme expanded to local government budgets.
fiscal austerity
1/fˈɪskəl ˌɔstˈɛɹɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
strict government budget tightening
a strict policy to reduce government deficits
Ejemplos
- Some economists argue that fiscal austerity is harmful during a recession.
- Fiscal austerity can reduce inflation but also slow growth.
- The report compared fiscal austerity across several European countries.