food insecurity
noun
plural food insecurities
: the fact or an instance of being unable to consistently access or afford adequate food
The USDA defines food insecurity as a household's inability to provide enough food for each person to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Food insecurity can also occur when there is an abundance of processed, pre-packaged, calorie-dense foods, because these foods do not contain adequate nutrition.—
The Northeast Mississippi (Tupelo) Daily Journal
The Northeast Mississippi (Tupelo) Daily JournalThe federal government often allocates funds to help citizens facing food insecurity and other socio-economic hardships …—Yssis Cano-Santiago
Yssis Cano-SantiagoThis past year has laid bare concerns about food insecurities in this country. The pandemic has led to shortages in the grocery store on essential items like toilet paper and meat.—Amanda Radke
Amanda RadkeExamples of food insecurity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The foundation, started in 2011 to combat food insecurity in Will County, also helps all year by distributing food to children, older adults, veterans and families.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
One in four Texas children are living with food insecurity, which causes developmental and health issues that impact graduation rates and the future workforce.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
In this informal economy, which touches every borough and county in the metropolitan area, there is widespread unemployment, food insecurity, loneliness, and crippling debt.
—Jordan Salama, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Improving financial wellness through counseling, education, and financial support to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health conditions, suicide, and other crises.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for food insecurity 
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Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
One in four Texas children are living with food insecurity, which causes developmental and health issues that impact graduation rates and the future workforce.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
In this informal economy, which touches every borough and county in the metropolitan area, there is widespread unemployment, food insecurity, loneliness, and crippling debt.
—Jordan Salama, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Improving financial wellness through counseling, education, and financial support to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health conditions, suicide, and other crises.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for food insecurity
Dictionary Entries Near food insecurity
Cite this Entry
“Food insecurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20insecurity. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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