food secure
adjective
also food-secure
ˈfüd-si-ˈkyu̇r 
: able to consistently access or afford adequate food
A food-secure household is not simply fed—it is free from the fear of hunger and not forced into unthinkable options (heat or eat) or short-sighted decisions (cheap, quick calories versus more nourishing choices).—
Jim Hanna
Jim Hanna
food security
noun
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines "food security" as access at all times by all people within a household to enough food for an active, healthy life. "Food insecurity," on the other hand, occurs when a household's consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.
—Elyse Miller
Elyse Miller
Examples of food secure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its lid-locking function keeps food secure while cooking or transporting, preventing spills and splatters.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 5 Oct. 2024
Tips include keeping food secure and inaccessible to bears, keeping all doors and windows of buildings properly shut, moving and hiking in groups and keeping pets on a leash at all times.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Additionally, almost all freezers will come with either a child lock or some type of locking mechanism to keep food secure.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2024
And preliminary data from a trial in New York City found that families who received home deliveries of fresh produce were more food secure and less stressed overall compared to families who didn’t.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the summit his country was food secure, but thanked his Russian counterpart nonetheless.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 27 July 2023
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data, Milwaukee families as a whole needed nearly $60 million to purchase enough food to become food secure.
—Talis Shelbourne, Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2022
These students are more likely to have lower GPAs, lower attendance and completion rates, and are more likely to report indicators of stress and depression than their food secure counterparts.
—Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022
Protecting and building habitats for pollinators keeps crop production in balance and food secure.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 9 June 2022
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Maggie Horton, People.com, 5 Oct. 2024
Tips include keeping food secure and inaccessible to bears, keeping all doors and windows of buildings properly shut, moving and hiking in groups and keeping pets on a leash at all times.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Additionally, almost all freezers will come with either a child lock or some type of locking mechanism to keep food secure.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2024
And preliminary data from a trial in New York City found that families who received home deliveries of fresh produce were more food secure and less stressed overall compared to families who didn’t.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the summit his country was food secure, but thanked his Russian counterpart nonetheless.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 27 July 2023
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data, Milwaukee families as a whole needed nearly $60 million to purchase enough food to become food secure.
—Talis Shelbourne, Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2022
These students are more likely to have lower GPAs, lower attendance and completion rates, and are more likely to report indicators of stress and depression than their food secure counterparts.
—Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022
Protecting and building habitats for pollinators keeps crop production in balance and food secure.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 9 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Food secure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20secure. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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