food insecurity

noun

plural food insecurities

: the fact or an instance of being unable to consistently access or afford adequate food

The USDA defines food insecurity as a household's inability to provide enough food for each person to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Food insecurity can also occur when there is an abundance of processed, pre-packaged, calorie-dense foods, because these foods do not contain adequate nutrition.

—The Northeast Mississippi (Tupelo) Daily Journal

The federal government often allocates funds to help citizens facing food insecurity and other socio-economic hardships …

—Yssis Cano-Santiago

This past year has laid bare concerns about food insecurities in this country. The pandemic has led to shortages in the grocery store on essential items like toilet paper and meat.

—Amanda Radke

Food insecurity is linked to numerous situations, including poverty, job layoffs and living in food deserts …

—Lelia Durand

Examples of food insecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For wealthy countries, ignoring food insecurity abroad is therefore economically irrational. —Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025

As legal battles continue, Congress appears to be nearing a deal to reopen the government and restore full SNAP funding, offering hope to millions facing food insecurity. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

About half of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee survey respondents last year and MATC respondents in 2021 experienced food insecurity, which is higher than the 41% of college students nationally facing food issues. —Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 10 Nov. 2025

Almost 1 in 5 households with children face food insecurity, and many of them turn to food banks for help. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food insecurity

• biosecurity
• cybersecurity
• immaturity
• prematurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• security
• purity
• surety