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 Northeast Mississippi (Tupelo) Daily JournalThe federal government often allocates funds to help citizens facing food insecurity and other socio-economic hardships …—Yssis Cano-Santiago
Yssis Cano-SantiagoThis 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
Amanda RadkeFood insecurity is linked to numerous situations, including poverty, job layoffs and living in food deserts …—Lelia Durand
Lelia DurandExamples of food insecurity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Senegal, like many African countries, is plagued by food insecurity that has been exacerbated by donors’ funding cuts and worsening climate conditions.
—Mark Banchereau, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
The program provides 250 meals every week and a thousand pounds of prepared fish fillets to local residents facing food insecurity.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
The business took to social media again this year to help address food insecurity as local food banks and pantries struggled to keep up with demand amid federal funding cuts and disruptions.
—Mary Ramsey
updated December 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
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Mark Banchereau, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
The program provides 250 meals every week and a thousand pounds of prepared fish fillets to local residents facing food insecurity.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
The business took to social media again this year to help address food insecurity as local food banks and pantries struggled to keep up with demand amid federal funding cuts and disruptions.
—Mary Ramsey
updated December 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
Cite this Entry
“Food insecurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20insecurity. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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