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
… the percentage of households with very low food security jumped to 5.7 percent last year …Tony Pugh

Examples of food security in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The discoveries of such large bee colonies are welcome news amid ongoing efforts to protect the insects, which have a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and food security, per the UN Environment Programme. Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 Avoiding the loss and fragmentation of agricultural land will also help keep agriculture — a mainstay of our state and local economies and essential for food security — economically viable in the decades to come. Tom Hoctor, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Fertilizer prices could stay elevated for months, rippling through harvests, food prices, and household food security well into the year. Shobha Shetty, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026 The number of people with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous and deadly kind, is expected to increase to 800,000, the world’s foremost experts on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in February. Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Today, the Foundation supports food security, nutrition and education in communities across the country. Matt Cortina, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 The number of people with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous and deadly kind, is expected to increase to 800,000, the world's foremost experts on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in February. ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 One of the things that Kara and I say pretty often is that food security is national security. Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 13 Apr. 2026 The World Food Program says the Israeli invasion has disrupted supply lines, leaving Lebanon in a food security crisis. Npr Staff, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food security was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Food security.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20security. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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