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
The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million, and pushed many parts of the country into famine.
—
Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
On top of that, the vast majority were malnourished, as Israeli restrictions on aid drove Gaza’s population to the brink of famine at times.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
For big leaguers that go against Sánchez, the pitcher’s bounty has become their famine, leading to a historic scoreless streak.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Models suggest Pacific Ocean surface temperatures could climb to a peak anomaly of 3°C above average by late 2026, a threshold reached only once in recorded history, during the catastrophic 1877–78 event that triggered deadly famines across three continents.
—Dr. Douglas M. Hasson, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
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Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
On top of that, the vast majority were malnourished, as Israeli restrictions on aid drove Gaza’s population to the brink of famine at times.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
For big leaguers that go against Sánchez, the pitcher’s bounty has become their famine, leading to a historic scoreless streak.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Models suggest Pacific Ocean surface temperatures could climb to a peak anomaly of 3°C above average by late 2026, a threshold reached only once in recorded history, during the catastrophic 1877–78 event that triggered deadly famines across three continents.
—Dr. Douglas M. Hasson, Hartford Courant, 28 May 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 7 Jun. 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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