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

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• deficit
• drought
• drouth
• failure
• inadequacy
• inadequateness
• insufficiency
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• scarcity
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of famine in a Sentence

The famine affected half the continent.

millions killed by war, drought, and famine

Recent Examples on the Web

Sudan’s government even denies that a famine is underway. —Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025

The nation is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people suffering from famine, according to the United Nations. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned that the humanitarian situation in the enclave was likely at its worst since October 2023, and that the population was once again on the brink of famine. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025

To date, famine has been confirmed in 10 areas in Sudan, including the Abu Shouk displacement camp. —Violet Ikong, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025

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