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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The event, held Saturday at the organization's southwest Atlanta headquarters, was designed to support mothers facing food insecurity and rising economic pressure. Cbs Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 10 May 2026 But now a new conflict in the Middle East threatens to push him deeper into financial loss and food insecurity as fuel and fertilizer prices rise. ABC News, 7 May 2026 Categories include environmental conservation, community engagement, cultural preservation, food insecurity, gender equality, social services, and animal welfare. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026 Thousands joined Project Bread’s 58th annual Walk for Hunger on Sunday to combat what organizers called a critical and rising problem of food insecurity in Massachusetts. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for food insecurity

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food insecurity was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Food insecurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20insecurity. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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