famine

noun

fam·​ine ˈfa-mən 

1

: an extreme scarcity of food

The famine affected most of the country.

2

archaic : starvation

3

archaic : a ravenous appetite

4

: a great shortage

Transportation problems resulted in a coal famine.

Synonyms of famine

• shortage
• lack
• drought

Examples of famine in a Sentence

The famine affected half the continent.

millions killed by war, drought, and famine

Recent Examples on the Web

Why is there the perpetual erosion of our environment, and things like poverty, famine, homelessness and hatred and division? —Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

Regions once threatened by famine began to feed themselves more reliably. —Kate Levasseur, Des Moines Register, 29 Mar. 2026

Dilling experienced famine-like conditions after more than two years of siege under the RSF during which the paramilitaries cut off supplies and frequently bombed the area. —Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026

The group has been fighting against the Sudanese military since April 2023 in a war that has pushed parts of the country into famine and is marked by widespread atrocities. —Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for famine

• gammon
• mammon
• backgammon
• examen
• examine
• glutamine
• reexamine

Kids Definition

famine

noun

fam·​ine ˈfam-ən 

1

: an extreme general shortage of food

2

: a great shortage