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

He read news articles about the “Dear Leader” drinking expensive whisky during North Korea’s massive famine in the late 1990s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nearly every child is at risk of famine or getting sick from preventable diseases.

From Los Angeles Times

He was chosen to head Chittagong University's economics department, but the young country was struggling through a famine, and he felt compelled to take practical action.

From Barron's

Lai sneaked into Hong Kong as a boy to escape famine in mainland China.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is our body’s survival mechanism, evolved over many centuries, to slow our metabolism down and conserve energy during times of famine or stress.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• drought
• misery
• poverty
• scarcity
• starvation