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

The report, based on 2023 data, shows this is the first time Texas has had the highest count of food insecure seniors since 2019 – the earliest year in which senior food insecurity data became available. —Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026

Or that food insecurity now affects one in three Rhode Island households. —Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026

In Hollywood, actor Karen Pittman has shared her own story of experiencing food insecurity to advocate for the millions who rely on government benefits. —Cate Matthews, Time, 27 Jan. 2026

Volunteers would gather at Hunger Busters every school day, putting together sandwiches and sides for thousands of students who were experiencing food insecurity at home. —Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 22 Jan. 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