foodstuff

noun

food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
specifically : the raw material of food before or after processing

Examples of foodstuff in a Sentence

stocked up on candles and foodstuffs before the hurricane
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Agricultural exporters including Argentina and Uruguay could be boosted as well as the price of foodstuffs increase globally, while investment in Latin America could further drive a hard currency windfall. Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026 The spiraling cost of foodstuffs has been an increasing focus of consumer pain, with cucumbers becoming the most recent lightning rod for popular discontent. Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026 For over 140 years, restaurateurs have become millionaires capitalizing on the insatiable American appetite for nearly any foodstuff from south of the border. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 Valentine’s Day, a holiday that fills hearts with figurative longing and passion — and literal foodstuffs, like chocolate. Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foodstuff

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foodstuff was in 1872

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Cite this Entry

“Foodstuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foodstuff. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

foodstuff

noun
food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
especially : a specific nutrient (as protein or fat)

Medical Definition

foodstuff

noun
food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
especially : a specific nutrient (as a fat or protein)

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