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 RadkeFood insecurity is linked to numerous situations, including poverty, job layoffs and living in food deserts …—Lelia Durand
Lelia DurandExamples of food insecurity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Besides immigration, there were projects about the environment, military veterans, food insecurity, the economy and changes within the school.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
After the Ground Zero event, the monarch, who prides himself on his environmental advocacy, will head uptown for a meeting in Harlem with a group that promotes urban farming programs for children and young people affected by hunger and food insecurity.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Experts fear that rising diesel prices and higher fertilizer costs will also hurt farm productivity, reducing yields and increasing food insecurity.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for food insecurity
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Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
After the Ground Zero event, the monarch, who prides himself on his environmental advocacy, will head uptown for a meeting in Harlem with a group that promotes urban farming programs for children and young people affected by hunger and food insecurity.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Experts fear that rising diesel prices and higher fertilizer costs will also hurt farm productivity, reducing yields and increasing food insecurity.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
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. 2026.
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