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
Examples of famine in a Sentence
The famine affected half the continent.
millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples on the Web
Irish farmers running from famine, Germans displaced by war, and Russian and Ukrainian Jews escaping pogroms.
—
Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Parts of Gaza, including the area in and around Gaza City, were found to be in famine.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
For others, a red Moon signaled impending war, famine, or the death of a ruler.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But the work cannot escape being read as a reference to the famine.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
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Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Parts of Gaza, including the area in and around Gaza City, were found to be in famine.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
For others, a red Moon signaled impending war, famine, or the death of a ruler.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But the work cannot escape being read as a reference to the famine.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
famine
noun
fam·ine
ˈfam-ən 
1
: an extreme general shortage of food
2
: a great shortage
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