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

Examples of food insecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, analysts warn the policy could strip food aid from those already struggling with inconsistent employment or caregiving obligations, heightening food insecurity during an uncertain economic climate. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

CalFresh can provide up to $250 monthly for groceries, which could substantially help to alleviate food insecurity among this population. —First Place For Youth, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Feeding South Florida emphasized the burglary could not come at a worse time, as there are about 2.1 million South Floridians who face food insecurities. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025

The Sudanese people certainly need a reprieve: the latest conflict has devastated the country, leaving as many as 150,000 Sudanese dead, nearly 13 million displaced, and up to 25 million facing severe food insecurity or famine. —Mai Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025

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