food bank

noun

variants or less commonly food pantry

: a usually non-profit organization that collects donated food and distributes it to people in need

Examples of food bank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The anecdote is part of an impassioned monologue about wanting to replace food banks with free grocery stores. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

The governor earlier this year also sent nearly $25 million from state surplus to food banks and pantries. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

The lag in benefits forced millions of families to make do with small collections from food banks or the generosity of restaurants. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

According to Starsky Wilson from the Children's Defense Fund, such cuts could leave food banks and government programs unable to fill the gap. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food bank

• gangplank
• nonbank
• outflank
• sandbank
• antitank
• interbank
• riverbank
• banc
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank

Kids Definition

food bank

noun

: a usually nonprofit organization that collects donated food and distributes it to people in need

called also food pantry