scant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'scant' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is insufficient or inadequate, or when referring to a small amount or degree of something. For example: "The scant evidence provided was not enough to convince the jury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet there is scant sign of those thousands taking to the streets in an Egyptian-style uprising against Mugabe's 33-year rule.

The Guardian

The five central Asian republics have made scant progress towards democratic reform in the two decades since independence.

The Guardian

I have vowed to stick to sites that offer the best security measures and to avoid the likes of globalfreeloaders.com and stay4free.com, where members' profiles offer scant details.

The Guardian - Travel

Google would be forgoing Gmail's scant profit, but its actions would be consistent with the idea that the net belongs to its users throughout the world.

The Guardian - Tech

I doubt it and I wouldn't put so much at risk to achieve such a scant outcome.

The Guardian - Opinion

Dortmund were one of the clubs in favour of embracing the 21st century, incidentally, but that was scant consolation when they found themselves on the wrong end of another wrong goalline decision in their 2-0 DFB Cup final defeat to Bayern.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite its scant donations, the trust used a complex web of transactions to seek £46m in gift aid, and its "donors" claimed £55m in charitable-giving tax relief.

The Guardian

"Recipes" were scant lists of ingredients, half methods, several things on the go at once – fine for the practised chef, but brand new to me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The final report, co-authored with Stefano Conti, bemoans the scant detail Stefanoni used to back up her findings.

The Guardian

But it would be equally rash to brush off this cautionary tale, which, at the least, suggests that creating hundreds of independent institutions offers scant protection against a slide in standards.

The Guardian - Opinion

It found that there were lots of anecdotes either way, but scant evidence to suggest changes in behaviour.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scant", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking or insufficient. For example, "scant attention" implies a lack of focus.

Common error

Avoid using "scant" in very informal or casual contexts. While grammatically correct, it's often perceived as more formal than alternatives like "little" or "not much".

Linguistic Context

The word "scant" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a lack or insufficiency. Ludwig examples show it describing quantities or degrees as insufficient. It can also function as a verb, but this is less common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "scant" functions as an adjective to denote something insufficient or inadequate. Ludwig AI confirms that using the term follows standard grammar rules. "Scant" is most frequently found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When using "scant", ensure the context clearly indicates the deficiency. Alternatives include "limited", "meager", and "sparse". While grammatically correct, avoid "scant" in very informal settings, where alternatives might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadequate

Directly expresses the insufficiency of something, aligning closely with the meaning of "scant".

insufficient

Indicates a lack of what is needed, mirroring the sense of "scant" in implying a shortage.

limited

Refers to a restricted quantity or extent, similar to "scant" in implying a deficiency.

meager

Implies a deficiency in quantity or quality, comparable to "scant" in suggesting inadequacy.

minimal

Refers to the least possible amount or degree, similar to "scant" in suggesting a small quantity.

sparse

Suggests thinly distributed or occurring infrequently, akin to "scant" in indicating a lack of abundance.

deficient

Emphasizes the lack of something essential or required, similar to "scant" in denoting insufficiency.

slight

Indicates a small degree or amount, comparable to "scant" in suggesting a limited extent.

small

A general term for limited size or amount, overlapping with the meaning of "scant" in certain contexts.

paltry

Describes something as trivial or worthless, sharing the implication of insignificance with "scant".

FAQs

How can I use "scant" in a sentence?

You can use "scant" to describe something that is insufficient or inadequate. For example, "There was "scant evidence" to support the claim."

What words can I use instead of "scant"?

You can use alternatives like "limited", "meager", or "sparse" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "scant amount"?

Yes, it is correct to say "scant amount". The word "scant" modifies "amount" to indicate that it is small or insufficient.

What's the difference between "scant" and "scanty"?

"Scant" generally refers to a lack or insufficiency in quantity or supply. "Scanty" typically describes something that is less than what is considered adequate or decent, often in reference to clothing or coverage.