austerity
/ɒˈsterəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːˈsterəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē -ˈste-rə- also -ˈstir-ə-/ (ame, mw)
austerity — noun
1. a way of living in which a person owns very few things, gives up pleasures, and
a way of living in which a person owns very few things, gives up pleasures, and accepts plain food, simple clothes, and basic shelter, often for religious or moral reasons.
The young monk embraced a life of austerity in the mountain temple.
a life of austerity (typical noun phrase)
Mahatma Gandhi was famous for his austerity, owning only a bowl, a book, and his glasses.
famous for + austerity
After the war, many families lived in austerity, sharing one coat between three children.
The nuns practiced daily austerities such as fasting and silent prayer.
Brother Marco chose austerity over the wealth his family had offered him.
- asceticism
stronger; emphasises rejecting all pleasure for spiritual reasons
- self-denial
everyday term; less tied to religion
- abstinence
narrower; usually about food, drink, or sex specifically
- luxury
great comfort and expensive things
- indulgence
freely enjoying pleasures
用法筆記
Often appears with religious or moral subjects (monks, saints, philosophers). Countable form 'austerities' refers to specific self-denying acts; uncountable form refers to the lifestyle as a whole.
常見錯誤
2. a hard period for ordinary people that follows when a government decides to spen
a hard period for ordinary people that follows when a government decides to spend much less on services, wages, and welfare in order to cut its debt.
Years of austerity in Greece left many hospitals short of nurses and basic medicine.
years of austerity (duration phrase)
The new finance minister rejected austerity and promised to raise pensions instead.
rejected/embraced austerity
Voters in Madrid blamed austerity measures for the closure of three local schools.
The government imposed strict austerity after borrowing reached a record high.
Critics warned that further austerity would push more young families into poverty.
- belt-tightening
informal; same idea but used in journalism and conversation
- retrenchment
formal; broader, includes any sharp cut in spending
- fiscal restraint
neutral policy term; less negative tone than austerity
用法筆記
Subject is usually a government, finance ministry, or central bank; almost always uncountable. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about national economic policy, not personal lifestyle, and rarely carries the moral or religious tone of sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. a clean, plain look in a building, room, or design that has no decoration, brigh
a clean, plain look in a building, room, or design that has no decoration, bright colour, or extra detail.
The chapel's grey walls and bare wooden benches gave it a striking austerity.
[place] + gave it + austerity
Visitors are often surprised by the austerity of the architect's own home in Kyoto.
the austerity of + [place/object]
Her wedding dress had a quiet austerity, with no lace and only one silver button.
Black-and-white photography suits the austerity of these northern landscapes.
- plainness
everyday word; less positive tone
- minimalism
modern design style; deliberate and stylish
- simplicity
broader; covers both objects and ideas
- ornateness
covered in heavy decoration
- extravagance
showy and excessive in style
用法筆記
Subjects are usually buildings, rooms, design, clothing, or art. Often praised as elegant rather than dull. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense focuses on visual plainness, while sense 4 focuses on a strict, serious manner of behaviour.
常見錯誤
4. a strict, serious way of behaving or speaking that shows no warmth and little hu
a strict, serious way of behaving or speaking that shows no warmth and little humour.
The headmistress ruled the boarding school with quiet austerity for thirty years.
rule with austerity (manner phrase)
Judge Lin's austerity in court frightened young lawyers more than her sharp questions.
austerity + in [setting]
Behind his usual austerity, the old farmer hid a deep love for his grandchildren.
The general spoke with a cold austerity that silenced every officer in the tent.
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a person or their voice, face, or manner. Often paired with adjectives like 'cold', 'quiet', or 'stern'. Distinguish from sense 3: that sense is about how something looks, this sense is about how someone acts or speaks.