food desert
noun
: an area where little fresh produce is available for sale
Despite the common perception of food deserts as city neighborhoods where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate, many of Kansas' food deserts are in rural areas. In some, residents have to drive 20 miles or farther to find a source of healthful food.—
Megan Hart
Megan HartExamples of food desert in a Sentence
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Similar to food deserts — areas where access to nutritious food is limited — sleep deserts are neighborhoods where conditions such as safety concerns, lack of green spaces and exposure to environmental pollutants create barriers to healthy sleep.
—Wendy Troxel, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
But waivers like this don’t address food deserts or access to healthy foods, Boys said.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Some areas also are food deserts, with no grocery stores to tax.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for food desert
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Wendy Troxel, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
But waivers like this don’t address food deserts or access to healthy foods, Boys said.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Some areas also are food deserts, with no grocery stores to tax.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for food desert
Cite this Entry
“Food desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20desert. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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