food desert

noun

1. an area, usually low-income, in which many residents cannot easily get to stores that sell affordable, healthful foods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of food desert¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

For instance, a Whole Foods could open in the middle of a food desert and still be inaccessible to the neighboring community because of the price point, she said.

From Voice of San Diego

The trail towns of Northern California are not quite a food desert but no oasis, either.

From Outside Online

We’re dealing with food deserts throughout our entire city, particularly in economically challenging communities.

From Eater

And everybody knows that the midsection of the U.S. is a food desert.

From The Daily Beast