famine

noun

fam·​ine ˈfa-mən 

1

: an extreme scarcity of food

The famine affected most of the country.

2

archaic : starvation

3

archaic : a ravenous appetite

4

: a great shortage

Transportation problems resulted in a coal famine.

Synonyms of famine

• shortage
• lack
• drought

Examples of famine in a Sentence

The famine affected half the continent.

millions killed by war, drought, and famine

Recent Examples on the Web

The result is an epidemic of solitude, if not loneliness; a dramatic drop in fertility; and a romantic famine across North and South America, Europe, and China. — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

About 26 million people are facing food insecurity and imminent famine has been flagged in several areas of Darfur. — Janine Di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026

Following heated backlash, artist Helen Cammock has removed her video work from London’s National Portrait Gallery, which claims former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill willfully starved Indians during the 1943 Bengal famine, reports BBC. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 June 2026

Churchill’s role in the famine, which took place during the twilight of India’s rule by Great Britain, has long been a topic of debate among historians. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for famine

• gammon
• mammon
• backgammon
• examen
• examine
• glutamine
• reexamine

Kids Definition

famine

noun

fam·​ine ˈfam-ən 

1

: an extreme general shortage of food

2

: a great shortage