Definition of famine
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.
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Examples of famine in a Sentence
The famine affected half the continent.
millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples of famine from the Web
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More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in nine African nations and Yemen.
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Overall in South Sudan, Mahla said, 1.7 million people are on the brink of famine in a nation that has ample water supplies — in more peaceful times — to grow foods such as mangos and pineapples.
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Female artists from a cooperative in South Sudan known for its beaded jewelry and clothing also chose to stay home amid unrest and famine there.
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By the time Ethiopia’s government and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) began warning of severe incoming drought early last year, the elders in their families had already met and set a plan for their wedding.
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The world’s youngest country faces the simultaneous scourges of civil war, famine and a cholera outbreak.
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Bitter Harvest The Soviet famine of 1932 and 1933, caused by Joseph Stalin's cruel collectivisation campaign, serves as the backdrop of this 2017 romantic drama.
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Bitter Harvest The Soviet famine of 1932 and 1933, caused by Joseph Stalin's cruel collectivisation campaign, serves as the backdrop of this 2017 romantic drama.
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The U.N warned that South Sudan's crisis is worsening and that removing the label of famine doesn't mean the situation has actually improved.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'famine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of famine
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames
FAMINE Defined for English Language Learners
famine
playDefinition of famine for English Language Learners
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: a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat
FAMINE Defined for Kids
famine
playDefinition of famine for Students
: a very great shortage of food that affects many people over a wide area
Learn More about famine
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See words that rhyme with famine Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for famine Spanish Central: Translation of famine Nglish: Translation of famine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of famine for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about famine
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