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 famine came to define an Irish Catholic identity and thus Irish national politics, at least retrospectively, in opposition to Anglican Britain. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

The family’s myrtle digestif recipe dates to 1939, when myrtle berries helped sustain the local population during famine. — Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Today, many former Biden Administration officials argue that their pressure on the Israelis prevented a famine from happening sooner. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Violent conflict is a common denominator of contemporary famine, and famine or the risk of famine has already been noted in several countries in the region. — Peter Hailey, The Conversation, 16 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