Holodomor

[ hoh-luh-duh-mawr, hoh-luh-duh-mawr; Ukrainian hoh-loh-doh-mawr ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Holodomor¹

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