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

One key way winter ticks harm moose is that heavy tick loads can cause hair loss, skin irritation, and blood loss, which can lead to starvation and death. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026

Because pets lack the natural instincts to survive in the wild, this practice frequently exposes them to starvation, extreme weather, vehicle accidents or fatal attacks by wildlife. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026

The villagers on the rock had ripped clothes and dirty faces, seemingly stunned that they had been found alive in the race against starvation and suffocation. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 27 May 2026

Imagine if more than one thousand Angelenos were dying of starvation every year while half the city was malnourished because a single cucumber cost $10. —Henry Mantel, Daily News, 27 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