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

The ripple effect of food insecurity around the world from Ukraine’s inability to ship its normally massive grain crops. — Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026

Maryland is taking several steps to address food insecurity among low-income families and children. — Kate Gray, CBS News, 29 June 2026

About 26 million people are facing food insecurity and imminent famine has been flagged in several areas of Darfur. — Janine Di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026

Regina Harmon is the CEO of Food Recovery Network, a national nonprofit founded in Maryland that works to prevent food waste and fight food insecurity. — Regina Harmon, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2026

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