What does scanting mean?
Scanting describes attention or examination that is quick, limited, or lacking in thoroughness. When someone gives an issue only scanting attention, they recognize it briefly without seriously considering its details; similarly, a scanting glance conveys a hurried or cursory look rather than sustained interest. The word often implies that the treatment is deliberately or practically insufficient, although it is generally less severe than “superficial,” which can suggest that something lacks depth altogether. It is most frequently used in formal and literary contexts, especially with “attention,” “glance,” “look,” and “consideration.” Because the term is relatively uncommon, it can sound precise and slightly emphatic, drawing attention to the brevity of an examination. In contrast to “scanning,” which often implies a systematic search, “scanting” emphasizes that only a small amount of attention is being given to something.
adjectiveNot examining or attending to something closely or thoroughly; cursory or brief.
- Not thorough or close; cursory and limited in attention or examination.
"She cast a scanting glance at the report before returning to her conversation."
"His scanting review identified none of the report's major weaknesses."
"After only a scanting reading, she realized that the argument depended on an unsupported assumption."
A scanting look gives something only a moment of your attention—and often says more about your hurry than about what you have seen.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scanting come from?
“Scanting” is formed from the older English word “scant,” which was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman French. The ultimate Roman source and exact historical development have been debated, but the English family includes “scant,” “scantly,” and “scantness.” All preserve the same basic sense of insufficiency or limited quantity, with “scanting” applying that idea to attention or examination.
How scanting is actually used
Relatively literary and uncommon in everyday speech. It is especially natural before words such as “attention,” “glance,” “look,” or “consideration.”
Easily confused with scanting
Scanning usually means examining text or an object systematically, whereas scanting means giving it only brief or cursory attention.