starvation

[ stahr-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or state of starving; condition of being starved.

adjective

1. liable or seeming to cause starving:

   a starvation diet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of starvation¹

First recorded in 1770–80; starve + -ation

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said it was a “failing of the international community” that the war in Gaza had not been stopped, accusing Israel of causing starvation there.

From BBC

After being exposed to the stress of starvation and physical injury, the comb jellies in Soto-Angel’s care reverted back to a cydippid larval stage.

From Salon

Last weekend, 15 senior UN figures said conditions in the north were “apocalyptic”, with the entire population “at risk of death from starvation, disease and violence”.

From BBC

“Today, despite strong opposition from a majority of Americans, we continue to spend billions funding the extremist Netanyahu government’s all-out war against the Palestinian people, which has led to the horrific humanitarian disaster of mass malnutrition and the starvation of thousands of children,” he said.

From Salon

During this war, they witnessed the most hideous forms of killing, siege, starvation, and the cutting off of water and medicine.

From Slate

Related Words

• deprivation
• famine
• malnutrition