Definition of "belt-tightening" []

• Increased thrift and frugality; a reduction in spending. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Ryan is talking about spending caps and long-term belt-tightening for the Medicare and Medicaid health programs."
• "WASHINGTON -- The budget deal agreed to by White House and congressional negotiators Friday night may be built upon the notion of belt-tightening and austerity...."
• "In a letter to the Super Committee, Congressman Howard Berman D-CA, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote, In this period of belt-tightening and economic uncertainty, some seem to think that foreign assistance is a luxury we can no longer afford."