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 an interview with the Miami Herald, David and Ariel described two long years marked by starvation, isolation and psychological abuse. —Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

During the nine-month-long ordeal, the then-14-year-old was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation. —Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026

Nine in the bay were killed by ship strikes last year while another 12 appear to have died of starvation. —David Helvarg, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026

Famine conditions in Gaza City have eased since the ceasefire began in October, but the situation remains critical, with the entire strip still at risk of starvation, according to a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the world’s leading authority on food crises. —Nick Duffy, NBC news, 14 Jan. 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
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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