austerità

austerity

noun ah-oo-steh-ree-TAH Rare

Origin: From Latin austeritas, from austerus (harsh, severe).

Usage Note

Austerità is invariable in the plural — le misure di austerità (austerity measures) — because it ends in a stressed vowel. It covers both the economic policy sense (politica di austerità) and a personal quality of severe simplicity. The adjective is austero/a. Do not confuse with astuzia (cunning).

Examples

"Il governo ha annunciato misure di austerità."

Natural Translation

The government announced austerity measures.

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