scant (sk?nt)adj. scant·er, scant·est 1. Barely sufficient: paid scant attention to the lecture.2. Falling short of a specific measure: a scant cup of sugar.3. Inadequately supplied; short: We were scant of breath after the lengthy climb.tr.v. scant·ed, scant·ing, scants 1. To give an inadequate portion or allowance to: had to scant the older children in order to nourish the newborn.2. To limit, as in amount or share; stint: Our leisure time is scanted by this demanding job.3. To deal with or treat inadequately or neglectfully; slight.[Middle English, from Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr, short.]scant?ly adv.scant?ness n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.