famine

[ fam-in ]

noun

1. extreme and general scarcity of food, as in a country or a large geographical area.
2. any extreme and general scarcity.

   Synonyms: scantness, meagerness, poverty, paucity, dearth

3. extreme hunger; starvation.

famine

/ ˈfæmɪn /

noun

1. a severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation
2. acute shortage of anything
3. violent hunger

Word History and Origins

Origin of famine¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, derivative of faim “hunger,” from Latin famēs; famish

Word History and Origins

Origin of famine¹

C14: from Old French, via Vulgar Latin, from Latin famēs hunger

Idioms and Phrases

see feast or famine .

Example Sentences

Sudan is currently Africa’s largest war and its biggest famine for decades.

From BBC

A UN-backed report recently warned that there was an imminent likelihood of famine in northern Gaza, where hardly any aid has entered in the past month.

From BBC

The industry is feast or famine.

From Los Angeles Times

A UN-backed report recently warned that there was an imminent likelihood of famine in northern Gaza, where hardly any aid has entered in the past month.

From BBC

On Saturday, Israel rejected warnings of famine in northern Gaza from global food security experts, saying the group relied on "partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests".

From BBC

Related Words

• drought
• misery
• poverty
• scarcity
• starvation