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

The commission’s guidelines have significant ramifications for technologies that could strengthen global food security, but the body is slow, underfunded, and controversial. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

Since strawberries are highly perishable, spotting any bruising or damage means mold spores have an easier place to begin spreading across the fruit, warns Jared Hibbard-Swanson, a food security and safety program manager. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026

Investing in them can slow desertification, safeguard rural livelihoods and strengthen food security. — Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

An Emory University poll released in March found that one in three Georgia families with children experienced low or very low food security. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food security

• immaturity
• insecurity
• prematurity
• biosecurity
• cybersecurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• purity
• surety