drought

/ˈdɹaʊ̯t/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: droughts

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.

Noun

Examples

His village had faced a drought twice.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A longer than expected term without success, particularly in sport.

NounRegister: informal

Examples

Sri Lanka ended their ten-game drought with a consolation win over Bangladesh.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “drought” mean?

A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.

Is “drought” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.