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

Cascadia Research Collective founder John Calambokidis told CBS affiliate KREM that many of the whales appeared to have died from starvation, possibly because of climate change reducing the Arctic and Alaskan food supplies that whales in the area rely on. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 6 May 2026

By 1850, the Great Famine had not only reduced the population through starvation and emigration but also accelerated the advance of English across Ireland’s midlands, as far as Sligo on the west coast. —Big Think, 4 May 2026

At the age of 14, Smart was abducted and held for nine months, where she was subjected to daily rape, physical abuse and starvation. —Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026

There is no serious ethical or political system that can justify the murder and starvation of children. —Literary Hub, 4 May 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