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 catalyst for the uproar was the IPC's warning from August 2025 that famine had reached Gaza Governorate. — Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

As many as 25 million Chinese starved in the famine of 1906–7, an event that accelerated efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty, China’s last imperial dynasty. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

Nine years of war had killed thousands, destroyed the economy and left tens of thousands of Yemenis living in famine, according to the UN. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Founded in 1599, the Grassmayr Bell Foundry, in Innsbruck, western Austria, has survived wars, famines, epidemics and economic challenges. — Philipp Jenne, Fortune, 30 July 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