rationing
rationing — noun
1. a system or policy in which a government or other authority controls the supply
a system or policy in which a government or other authority controls the supply of scarce resources — such as food, fuel, or water — by giving each person or household a fixed, limited amount
The government introduced food rationing during the war, limiting each family to a monthly allowance.
introduce + strict + [resource] rationing
The hospital imposed water rationing after the drought, so nurses showered for only two minutes.
impose + water rationing
Many residents recall petrol rationing in the 1970s, when cars filled up every other day.
Fuel rationing was announced by the council to prevent panic buying at the pumps.
With food rationing in place, each family received one kilo of sugar per month.
- allocation
more neutral — allocation can happen even when there is no shortage; rationing specifically implies scarcity
- quota system
emphasises fixed numerical limits rather than the broader policy; a quota system is one method of rationing
- restriction
broader — any kind of limit, not necessarily a planned distribution by an authority
文法句型
rationing of [something]
[resource] + rationing
用法筆記
The resource being limited typically appears before the noun (food rationing, water rationing, fuel rationing) or after of (rationing of petrol). Frequently used with verbs like introduce, impose, announce, or enforce.