food insecure

American

[food in-si-kyoor] / ˈfud ˌɪn sɪˈkjʊər /

Or food-insecure

adjective

having or characterized by limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

Lack of rain has made for a reduced harvest, and at least 1.31 million people in the region are food insecure.

Etymology

Origin of food insecure

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

food insecure

Some 1.4 million residents in the Big Apple are food insecure, meaning they're unable to regularly access affordable, healthy food.

From Barron's ● Nov. 28, 2025

Over 1 in 5 Californians are food insecure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025

"Our most recent research showed that in 2024, 520,00 lived in food insecure houses - that means they've skipped meals, reduced sizes, or simply can't afford to buy more," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025

Over 1 million people in New Jersey report being food insecure, and many of them live in food deserts, an area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2025

The U.N. says some 12.9 million Syrians are food insecure across the country.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023