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
Ten years ago, my colleages and I documented that polygyny is associated with higher food insecurity and poor child health when comparing outcomes across over 50 Tanzanian villages.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
The risk of suspension due to the ongoing government shutdown—particularly before Thanksgiving—could exacerbate already widespread food insecurity.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
More than half of the country lives in poverty, and 40% of the population experiences at least moderate food insecurity.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Families that lose income due to job displacement face cascading hardships including housing and food insecurity, caregiver stress and reduced access to health care.
—Erin Hogeboom, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
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David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
The risk of suspension due to the ongoing government shutdown—particularly before Thanksgiving—could exacerbate already widespread food insecurity.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
More than half of the country lives in poverty, and 40% of the population experiences at least moderate food insecurity.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Families that lose income due to job displacement face cascading hardships including housing and food insecurity, caregiver stress and reduced access to health care.
—Erin Hogeboom, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 2025.
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