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.
Examples of famine in a Sentence
The famine affected half the continent.
millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples on the Web
In late-May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli and U.S.-backed group, began distributing aid in the enclave that the World Food Programme warns is on the brink of famine.
—
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Experts say Israel’s blockade and military campaign have driven the population to the brink of famine.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Israel responded with an invasion of the Palestinian enclave to root out Hamas from tunnels and other fortifications that has left over 55,000 people dead, much of Gaza in ruins and its population of 2.1 million at risk of famine, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
Part of our military history includes the great American Relief Administration, where Army officers worked to save lives from famine after World War I.
—William Lambers, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
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Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Experts say Israel’s blockade and military campaign have driven the population to the brink of famine.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Israel responded with an invasion of the Palestinian enclave to root out Hamas from tunnels and other fortifications that has left over 55,000 people dead, much of Gaza in ruins and its population of 2.1 million at risk of famine, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
Part of our military history includes the great American Relief Administration, where Army officers worked to save lives from famine after World War I.
—William Lambers, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
famine
noun
fam·ine
ˈfam-ən 
1
: an extreme general shortage of food
2
: a great shortage
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