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
What once might have been dismissed as externalities — extreme weather, food insecurity, or regulatory reversals — now land directly on balance sheets.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
How childhood food insecurity fuels eating disorder risk Lacking consistent access to food harms children’s physical health and well-being in the short term and puts them at higher risk for significant mental health problems in the future.
—Oona Hanson, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Financial stress, especially on young adults and lower-income individuals, such as, student debt, rent and food insecurity are contributors.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Nearly 14 percent of households across the country experienced food insecurity in 2023.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
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Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
How childhood food insecurity fuels eating disorder risk Lacking consistent access to food harms children’s physical health and well-being in the short term and puts them at higher risk for significant mental health problems in the future.
—Oona Hanson, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Financial stress, especially on young adults and lower-income individuals, such as, student debt, rent and food insecurity are contributors.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Nearly 14 percent of households across the country experienced food insecurity in 2023.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2025.
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