famine

noun

fam·​ine ˈfa-mən How to pronounce famine (audio)
Synonyms of famine
1
: an extreme scarcity of food
The famine affected most of the country.
2
archaic : starvation
3
archaic : a ravenous appetite
4
: a great shortage
Transportation problems resulted in a coal famine.

Synonyms of famine

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Examples of famine in a Sentence

The famine affected half the continent. millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nine years of war had killed thousands, destroyed the economy and left tens of thousands of Yemenis living in famine, according to the UN. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Founded in 1599, the Grassmayr Bell Foundry, in Innsbruck, western Austria, has survived wars, famines, epidemics and economic challenges. — Philipp Jenne, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Widespread crop failures linked to an extended period of atmospheric cooling in the sixth century led to widespread and repeated famine. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 In the early 1930s, the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty wrote stories denying the famine that Joseph Stalin’s forced-collectivization policies were causing in Ukraine and mocked journalists who reported the truth. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of famine was in the 14th century

Rhymes for famine

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Browse Nearby Words

family way
famine
famine bread
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Cite this Entry

“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

famine

noun
fam·​ine ˈfam-ən How to pronounce famine (audio)
1
: an extreme general shortage of food
2
: a great shortage

More from Merriam-Webster on famine

Nglish: Translation of famine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about famine

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