Quantity & Amount Vocabulary

an excess or overabundance of something

“The market offers a plethora of choices for consumers.”

Origin: Greek plēthōrē `fullness`, from plēthein `be full`

a scarcity or lack of something

“There is a dearth of qualified candidates for the position.”

Origin: Middle English derthe, from Old English dēorþ `dearness, costliness`

a small quantity of something

“He showed not even a modicum of remorse for his actions.”

Origin: Latin modicum `small amount`, from modicus `moderate`, from modus `measure`

an excessive amount of something

“The surfeit of information made it hard to focus.”

Origin: Old French surfait `excess`, from surfaire `to overdo`, from sur- `over` + faire `do`

the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities

“The paucity of evidence made prosecution difficult.”

Origin: Latin paucitas `fewness`, from paucus `few`

a very large quantity of something; plentifulness

“The region enjoys an abundance of natural resources.”

Origin: Latin abundantia `overflow`, from abundare `overflow`, from ab- `from` + undare `to surge`

the state of being scarce or in short supply

“Water scarcity affects millions worldwide.”

Origin: Old French escarcete, from Vulgar Latin excarpere `pluck out`

an abundance or large quantity of something

“The garden bloomed with a profusion of colors.”

Origin: Latin profusio `a pouring out`, from profundere `pour forth`, from pro- `forth` + fundere `pour`

a countless or extremely great number

“The city offers myriad opportunities for entertainment.”

Origin: Greek myrias, myriad- `ten thousand`, from myrios `countless`

a large number of people or things

“A multitude of factors contributed to the outcome.”

Origin: Latin multitudo `a great number`, from multus `many`

an extremely small amount

“There isn't an iota of truth in that statement.”

Origin: Greek iōta, smallest letter of the Greek alphabet

a tiny trace or spark of something

“Not a scintilla of evidence supports that claim.”

Origin: Latin scintilla `spark`

a very small or inadequate amount of money

“He worked long hours for a pittance.”

Origin: Old French pitance `pity, piety; ration`, from Latin pietas `piety`

an excessively abundant supply

“The oil glut caused prices to plummet.”

Origin: Latin gluttire `to swallow`, from gluttus `greedy`

a severe flood; an overwhelming quantity

“The office received a deluge of complaints.”

Origin: Latin diluvium `flood`, from diluere `wash away`, from dis- `away` + -luere `wash`

a large number of similar things coming in quick succession

“A spate of robberies alarmed the neighborhood.”

Origin: Scots and Northern English, possibly from Old French espoit `flood`

a large number or quantity

“The announcement raised a slew of questions.”

Origin: Irish Gaelic sluagh `multitude, host`

abundant in supply or quantity

“She took copious notes during the lecture.”

Origin: Latin copiosus `plentiful`, from copia `plenty`, from co- `together` + ops `wealth`

lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate

“The meager portions left everyone hungry.”

Origin: Old French megre, from Latin macer `lean, thin`

thinly dispersed or scattered; scanty

“Information about the incident remains sparse.”

Origin: Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere `scatter, sprinkle`

extremely small

“The difference in size was infinitesimal.”

Origin: Modern Latin infinitesimus `infinite-th`, from Latin infinitus `infinite`

many and of various types

“The multifarious activities of the organization.”

Origin: Latin multifarius `manifold`, from multus `many` + -farius `-fold`