food insecure

American  

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

Or food-insecure

adjective

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of food insecure

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

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

About a quarter of military families are considered food insecure, and 15% rely on Snap or food pantries, according to the research firm Rand.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025

Nearly 28% of U.S. adults report difficulty affording food, and 13.5% of households are food insecure.

From Salon ● Feb. 27, 2025

County residents are food insecure — 11% of whom are seniors, or about 165,000 people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2024

Forty percent of people who were food insecure this year did not get aid and those who did received less than 50% of the full rations, said Ollo Sib from the World Food Program.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2023