a-u-s-t-e-r-i-t-y
AUSTERITY is a sophisticated 9-letter word worth 12 points in Scrabble. Featuring the valuable Y tile (4 points) and the versatile -ITY suffix, it's an excellent bingo candidate for earning the 50-point bonus.
12
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
AUSTERITY means the quality of being austere - severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; having no comforts or luxuries. Often used in economic contexts to describe policies that reduce spending. In word games, AUSTERITY showcases the power of the -ITY suffix, one of the most productive in English. With its Y tile worth 4 points and balanced letter distribution, this 9-letter word transforms 12 base points into 62 points when played as a bingo, making it a game-changing play for strategic players.
"Austerity" derives from the Latin "austeritas," from "austerus" meaning "harsh, rough, or bitter," which came from Greek "austeros" (harsh, severe, stringent). The Greek root originally meant "making the tongue dry" or "astringent," referring to the puckering sensation of tart wine. First appearing in English in the 14th century, the word initially described physical harshness before expanding to moral strictness and eventually economic stringency. This linguistic journey from wine-tasting to fiscal policy makes AUSTERITY a fascinating addition to any word gamer's vocabulary.
•AUSTERITY ends with -ITY, one of the most common and valuable suffixes in English word games
•The Y in AUSTERITY is worth 4 points, making it the highest-value tile in this word
•AUSTERITY can be built from the 7-letter base AUSTERE by adding the common suffix -ITY
•Words ending in -ITY like AUSTERITY often have related adjectives (AUSTERE) and adverbs (AUSTERELY)
""I noticed AUSTERE on my rack, drew I and T, and suddenly had AUSTERITY for a 62-point bingo!""
""The -ITY ending in AUSTERITY is golden - it connects easily with existing words on the board.""
Total base points: 12 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 4 | Consonants: 5
Explore these words that share patterns or themes with AUSTERITY:
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like AUSTERITY