food security

noun

: the fact or an instance of being able to consistently access or afford adequate food
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
… the percentage of households with very low food security jumped to 5.7 percent last year …Tony Pugh

Examples of food security in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But the bill’s advancement was not cause for celebration among the food security advocates who have been calling for state funds to cover the cost of school meal copays for years. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026 Agriculture is the backbone of Texas, and my mission has always been to protect our producers, expand markets, and ensure food security for every Texan. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 Cuba faces acute challenges including food security, energy shortages, rising disease rates and ongoing economic contraction. Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 But Beijing’s end goal is food security — reducing reliance on other countries. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 Helping people to get jobs that provide food security will be particularly important in the coming years, with demand for help through food banks projected to double nationwide, Pulling said. Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026 The State Fair has a committee that reviews applications, selecting them based on the organization’s focus on education, capacity-building, economic development and food security. Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026 The legislation protects the state’s food supply, strengthens its economy, and puts food security on equal footing with national security. George Landrith, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026 This work is part of Cargill’s broader effort to strengthen food security by addressing both immediate needs and long-term barriers. Pilar Cruz, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food security was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Food security.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20security. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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