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

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

Steep aid cuts have exacerbated existing food security crises—whether from Russia’s war with Ukraine disrupting international food supplies or farmers losing tens of billions of dollars due to climate change. —Reem Alabali Radovan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026

To be sure, half of the world’s population experiences water scarcity for at least one month a year, throwing public health and food security into question. —Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026

Energy security, food security, climate change, and public health have all been elevated to essential security concerns. —Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food security

• immaturity
• insecurity
• prematurity
• biosecurity
• cybersecurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• purity
• surety