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

But even before the shutdown, food insecurity was at its highest rate in nearly a decade. —CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025

Harry, Meghan and the team from their charitable Archewell Foundation made the surprise stop to prepare meals for community members experiencing food insecurity, a statement said. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

That's equivalent to about $550 million worth of food at a time when more Americans are facing food insecurity and difficulties affording the rising cost of groceries. —Molly Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Nov. 2025

Dickens praised the city's partners, including the Independent Grocers Alliance and Savi Provisions, for helping to meet the needs of roughly 14 percent of Atlantans who experience food insecurity. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 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