AUSTERITY

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does austerity mean? 

• AUSTERITY (noun)
  The noun AUSTERITY has 1 sense:

1. the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)

  Familiarity information: AUSTERITY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AUSTERITY (noun)

Meaning:

The trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

austerity; nonindulgence; asceticism

Hypernyms ("austerity" is a kind of...):

self-denial; self-discipline (the trait of practicing self discipline)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "austerity"):

monasticism (asceticism as a form of religious life; usually conducted in a community under a common rule and characterized by celibacy and poverty and obedience)