food security
noun
: the fact or an instance of being able to consistently access or afford adequate food
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines "food security" as access at all times by all people within a household to enough food for an active, healthy life. "Food insecurity," on the other hand, occurs when a household's consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.—
Elyse Miller
Elyse Miller… the percentage of households with very low food security jumped to 5.7 percent last year …—Tony Pugh
Tony PughExamples of food security in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Supply disruptions have also hit hard in Europe and Africa, where countries are responding to rising fuel costs and a considerable threat to food security.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Biodiversity is becoming a food security issue Many heritage grains and livestock breeds are being preserved precisely because experts worry about overreliance on a narrow set of crops and animals.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Its funding supported farmer training, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, water infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and broader efforts to strengthen food security and livelihoods across the region.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
So while food theft has always occurred, as the world gets more fragmented, global food security is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 28 May 2026
The one major exception is agriculture — and that policy has historical roots dating back to World War II, when the Swiss learned the hard way that food security matters for small countries surrounded by hostile powers.
—Richard W. Rahn, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Adebayo was cited by the league for his commitment to educational equity, food security and youth development in underserved communities across South Florida and North Carolina.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The East African nation was already facing one of its worst food security crises in years.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Though conditions are more acute in Myanmar due to the civil war, experts warn the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz could also dent rice production across the region – with potentially huge shocks for food security.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
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Sam Meredith, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Biodiversity is becoming a food security issue Many heritage grains and livestock breeds are being preserved precisely because experts worry about overreliance on a narrow set of crops and animals.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Its funding supported farmer training, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, water infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and broader efforts to strengthen food security and livelihoods across the region.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
So while food theft has always occurred, as the world gets more fragmented, global food security is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 28 May 2026
The one major exception is agriculture — and that policy has historical roots dating back to World War II, when the Swiss learned the hard way that food security matters for small countries surrounded by hostile powers.
—Richard W. Rahn, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Adebayo was cited by the league for his commitment to educational equity, food security and youth development in underserved communities across South Florida and North Carolina.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The East African nation was already facing one of its worst food security crises in years.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Though conditions are more acute in Myanmar due to the civil war, experts warn the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz could also dent rice production across the region – with potentially huge shocks for food security.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Food security.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20security. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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