hunger strike

noun

: refusal (as by a prisoner) to eat enough to sustain life
hunger striker noun

Examples of hunger strike in a Sentence

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.
His pardon came after years of pressure on Egypt’s government from his family, that included long hunger strikes by Abd El-Fattah and his mother, Laila Soueif, who is a professor of math at Cairo University. James Folta, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025 In the past, what tended to travel were tactics such as sit-ins, marches or hunger strikes. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025 This delay prompted his mother to go on hunger strike in September 2024, only ending her protest in July 2025 after many appeals from her family and after losing over 35 kilograms. Reuters, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025 His mother, Laila Soueif, a professor of mathematics at Cairo University, launched her own hunger strike last September to demand her son’s release. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hunger strike

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hunger strike was in 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Hunger strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunger%20strike. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hunger strike

noun
: refusal (as by a prisoner) to eat enough to stay alive

More from Merriam-Webster on hunger strike

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