famine

American  

[fam-in] / ˈfæm ɪn /

noun

1. extreme and general scarcity of food, as in a country or a large geographical area.

2. any extreme and general scarcity.

   Synonyms:

   scantness, meagerness, poverty, paucity, dearth

3. extreme hunger; starvation.

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famine British  

/ ˈfæmɪn /

noun

1. a severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation

2. acute shortage of anything

3. violent hunger

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famine Idioms  

1. see feast or famine.

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Etymology

Origin of famine

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, derivative of faim “hunger,” from Latin famēs; famish

Example Sentences

Root has been feast or famine in this series.

From BBC

The country's roughly 40 million people have endured what aid agencies say is the world's third worst hunger crisis - one that has repeatedly threatened to reach famine levels.

From BBC

I wondered whether my own family history – great-grandparents born during the Irish famine, a grandmother who was traumatised by her war experiences in the 1920s – could have made me more genetically predisposed to PTSD?

From BBC

His relentless pursuit of steel production at the expense of farm work during the Great Leap Forward contributed to a famine, causing as many as tens of millions of deaths.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it added that if there were renewed hostilities the entire Strip would be at risk of famine.

From BBC

Related Words

• drought
• misery
• poverty
• scarcity
• starvation