What does exiguousness mean?
Exiguousness is a formal noun denoting extreme smallness, scantiness, or insufficiency in amount or supply. It is derived directly from the adjective 'exiguous,' which describes something as meagre or barely adequate, and it functions as an elegant, somewhat literary way of expressing that something falls conspicuously short of what is needed or expected. Writers typically deploy the word in elevated prose — discussing limited evidence, sparse resources, thin harvests, or inadequate funding — where ordinary terms like 'shortage' would feel too plain. Its tone is neutral to slightly negative, emphasizing deficiency rather than mere rarity. A close synonym in meaning is 'exiguity,' another noun drawn from the same root. Though rare in everyday speech, exiguousness rewards writers seeking precision and formality: it captures not just scarcity but the very quality of being reduced to the bare minimum.
nounThe quality or state of being exiguous; extreme smallness, scantiness, or meagreness in amount or supply.
- The quality of being extremely small or scanty in amount; meagreness.
"The expedition's failure was attributed largely to the exiguousness of its supplies."
"Critics noted the exiguousness of the evidence supporting the theory."
"The novel vividly conveys the exiguousness of wartime rations through its stark descriptions."
Rarely pluralized; the word almost always appears in the singular as an abstract mass noun.
"The report catalogued the various exiguousnesses of the region's infrastructure."
Born from a Latin verb meaning 'to weigh out,' exiguousness is the word for when there's just barely enough — and often not even that.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exiguousness
Exiguousness derives from the adjective 'exiguous,' borrowed into English in the early 17th century from Latin 'exiguus,' meaning small, scanty, or poor. The Latin adjective comes from the verb 'exigere,' literally 'to drive out' but used figuratively to mean 'to measure out, weigh, or demand exactly' — the same verb that gave English 'exact,' 'examine,' and 'exigent.' The noun-forming suffix '-ness' was added in English to produce this abstract term for the quality of being exiguous.
Related word forms
How exiguousness is actually used
A formal, literary word derived directly from the adjective 'exiguous.' It carries a slightly bookish register and is far less common than 'scarcity' or 'meagreness.' The alternative noun 'exiguity' is also available, with essentially the same meaning.
Easily confused with exiguousness
Exiguousness means scantiness or smallness in amount, while exigency means an urgent need or demanding circumstance.