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

These impacts will likely be more severe in lower- and middle-income countries, but we will not be spared from the increase in food insecurity. —Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 7 June 2026

Support+Feed is a nonprofit charity organization that works to fight against the climate crisis and food insecurity. —Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

But without them, yields fall, food prices rise and food insecurity spreads. —John W.h. Denton Ao, Fortune, 6 June 2026

Skau cited other global hotspots with food insecurity, including Sudan, Gaza, southern Lebanon, Yemen and Haiti. —ABC News, 5 June 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