Holodomor

American  

[hoh-luh-duh-mawr, hoh-luh-duh-mawr, hoh-loh-doh-mawr] / ˈhoʊ lə dəˌmɔr, ˌhoʊ lə dəˈmɔr, hoʊ loʊ doʊˈmɔr /

noun

1. the Holodomor, a severe famine in Ukraine (1932–33), exacerbated by a series of punitive measures taken against the country by the Soviets and leading to the death of almost four million Ukrainians from hunger.

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Etymology

Origin of Holodomor

First recorded in 1930–35; from Ukrainian holodmór “death by hunger, starvation,” from hólod “hunger” + mor “extermination”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Holodomor

Ukrainians have termed their own word for the barrage -- "Kholodomor", a reference to the Holodomor, the 1930s famine orchestrated by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that Kyiv considers a genocide.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

Main Debate: Backbench debate on recognition of the 1930s Great Famine in Ukraine, known as the Holodomor, when millions of Ukrainians died during the forced collectivisation of farms by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

From BBC ● May 19, 2023

In November, he also compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the Holodomor genocide of the 1930s, when the policies of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin gave rise to a terrible famine in Ukraine.

From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2023

Russian authorities in October dismantled Mariupol’s memorial to victims of the Holodomor, the Soviet-engineered famine in the 1930s that killed millions of Ukrainians, according to video posted on Russian television.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2022

Romania, Ireland and Moldova are among the countries that have already declared the Holodomor to be a genocide.

From Reuters ● Nov. 30, 2022

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