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

That model is increasingly important as families across metro Atlanta struggle with food insecurity. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Feeding America estimates that 34,000 children in Baltimore City experienced food insecurity in 2024. — Fred Hassell, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026

And soon, the virus would also cross borders, triggering food insecurity, widespread sickness, and mass casualties around the world. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

This water struggle is also heavily affecting Puerto Rican farmers, as the ongoing drought has left them unable to produce, which may lead to food insecurity on the island. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 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