starvation

noun

star·​va·​tion stär-ˈvā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of starving

2

: the state of being starved

Examples of starvation in a Sentence

The famine brought mass starvation.

Millions of people face starvation every day.

Recent Examples on the Web

In occupied Oleshky, starvation has become a weapon of the occupation. — Anna Husarska, Washington Post, 9 July 2026

Triggered by starvation, exercise, or diet, ketogenesis is an alternative form of energy production. — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 July 2026

During the Blob and the strong El Niño that followed, researchers linked those cascading changes to widespread starvation among seabirds and other marine wildlife. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Other messages described starvation, brutal military drills, constant drone attacks and recruits being punished for not understanding Russian commands. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing starvation

• starvation diet
• starvation wages

Rhymes for starvation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

starvation

noun

star·​va·​tion stär-ˈvā-shən 

: the act or an instance of starving : the state of being starved

Medical Definition

starvation

noun

star·​va·​tion stär-ˈvā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of starving

2

: the state of being starved