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
Warren harvested greens, potatoes and watermelons as part of an effort to address food insecurity and health concerns in a neighborhood challenged by blight, crime and poverty.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
The club is an all-volunteer nonprofit that was founded in 1972 to address local food insecurity, promote the study of horticulture and landscape design and participate in civic beautification projects.
—Lisa Thorn, Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2025
Soda is unhealthy, but so is limiting food stamps: The program has been shown to significantly reduce food insecurity and health-care costs.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
The move was swiftly condemned by Afghan advocates, who pointed to deteriorating conditions in the country that have accelerated since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, including widespread food insecurity.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
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Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
The club is an all-volunteer nonprofit that was founded in 1972 to address local food insecurity, promote the study of horticulture and landscape design and participate in civic beautification projects.
—Lisa Thorn, Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2025
Soda is unhealthy, but so is limiting food stamps: The program has been shown to significantly reduce food insecurity and health-care costs.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
The move was swiftly condemned by Afghan advocates, who pointed to deteriorating conditions in the country that have accelerated since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, including widespread food insecurity.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
Cite this Entry
“Food insecurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20insecurity. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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