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

Examples of food insecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The incredible work Himmah does to address food insecurity, poverty, and social exclusion should be recognised and applauded. —Simon Perry, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025

But residents may also face food insecurity and low housing stability and have poor or fewer community ties with neighbors, West said. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that food insecurity drives up national health care spending by $53 billion each year, primarily due to avoidable hospitalizations and chronic illness. —Casey Castillo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025

And through a partnership with a student organization fighting food insecurity, Campus Kitchen, nearly 260,000 pounds of unserved meals have been distributed to local food banks and nonprofits since the initiative began ten years ago. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 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