1
: an extreme scarcity of food
The famine affected most of the country.
2
archaic
: starvation
3
archaic
: a ravenous appetite
4
: a great shortage
Transportation problems resulted in a coal famine.
Synonyms of famine
Examples of famine in a Sentence
The famine affected half the continent.
millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples on the Web
In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024.
—
Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The flood of immigrants who settled in the area were a motley crew – clannish Scandinavians, Germans, Irish Catholics escaping famine, Yankees from New England, Black refugees from the segregated South, Mexican workers seeking a better life.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur, where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
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Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
The flood of immigrants who settled in the area were a motley crew – clannish Scandinavians, Germans, Irish Catholics escaping famine, Yankees from New England, Black refugees from the segregated South, Mexican workers seeking a better life.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur, where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
famine
noun
fam·ine
ˈfam-ən 
1
: an extreme general shortage of food
2
: a great shortage
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