Scant Meaning
/skænt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; scanty; meager.
adjSparing; parsimonious; chary.
Sentence Examples
They are scant of money.
The volunteer firefighters fought the blaze bravely, with scant regard for their own safety.
The rescue team had scant evidence to locate the missing hikers.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher had ____ information to base his conclusion on, making it risky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The report offered only ____ evidence to support the bold claims made in the introduction.
Word Origin & History
Adjective and determiner from Middle English scant, from Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr (“short”), from Proto-Germanic *skammaz (“short”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱem- (“mutilated, hornless”). Verb from Middle English scanten, from the adjective. Noun and adverb from Middle English scant, from the adjective.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour."
— 1824, John Watkins, Life of Hugh Latimer:
"Another major defect of the current literature dealing with the nomenclature of hybrid forms of English is the scant attention paid to the question of frequency."
— 2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 4:
"The mainstream media hones in on bad news stories where UK railways are concerned, yet gives scant attention to the many items of good news emerging from the network."
— 2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Aylesbury (2009)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 61:
"Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
"Scant not my cups."
— c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher had ____ information to base his conclusion on, making it risky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The report offered only ____ evidence to support the bold claims made in the introduction.