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

Women tend to survive disease, starvation and injury at higher rates than men do. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025

The leading cause of starvation is armed conflict, which continues to displace communities, disrupt food production, and block humanitarian aid. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025

In the past week, some aid has entered through the southern Kerem Shalom crossing, but humanitarian agencies say food has yet to reach the over half a million people currently facing starvation across Gaza. —Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Money, 31 May 2025

And at some point, every season turned into a battle of starvation. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 11 June 2025

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