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

Sharp increases in oil, gas, and fertilizer prices, together with transport bottlenecks, will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity. —CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026

The sixth annual Massachusetts Food Access Report found a record 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity during 2025. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026

Day was quick to say yes to performing at the No Kid Hungry Dinner, given the urgency of the issue and the struggles that many families face with food insecurity. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026

Beyond the energy squeeze, the war has hit global fertilizer markets and is expected to worsen food insecurity around the world. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food insecurity

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