famine

2 definitions • 4 examples

a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens:

widespread famine Another crop failure could result in widespread famine.

die of famine There were reports of refugees dying of famine.

Thousands of people emigrated during the Irish potato famine of 1845–46.

an extreme lack of food in a region, causing suffering and death:

[ U ] Widespread famine was reported in the region.