noun
Uncommon
famine
FA-mihn
Famine (noun) means a severe, widespread shortage of food, often causing mass starvation. Example: “Decades of drought led to a devastating famine in the region.”
noun
1
A severe, widespread shortage of food, often causing mass starvation.
"Decades of drought led to a devastating famine in the region."
"Aid agencies rushed food supplies to the famine-hit province."
"Stories of the old famine were passed down through the village for generations."
2
A severe shortage of something in general, not just food.
"The industry is facing a famine of skilled workers."
"There was a famine of good ideas at the meeting, and nobody spoke."
"The town suffers from a famine of affordable housing for young families."
How to use famine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA serious, large-scale shortage — usually of food, but sometimes used figuratively for anything in short supply.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
famine relief
widespread famine
famine and drought
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Word forms
- Plural
- famines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Decades of drought led to a devastating _____ in the region.
Etymology
From Old French famine, ultimately related to Latin fames, "hunger."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for famine
See all rhymes for famine →Frequently asked questions
What does “famine” mean?
The word “famine” means a severe, widespread shortage of food, often causing mass starvation. In plain terms, a serious, large-scale shortage — usually of food, but sometimes used figuratively for anything in short supply.
How do you pronounce “famine”?
“Famine” is pronounced FA-mihn (/ˈfæmɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “famine” in a sentence?
Here is “famine” used in a sentence: “Decades of drought led to a devastating famine in the region.”
What part of speech is “famine”?
“Famine” is a noun.
Where does the word “famine” come from?
The word “famine” comes from Latin. From Old French famine, ultimately related to Latin fames, "hunger.".
Is “famine” a common word?
“Famine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “famine” have?
“Famine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a severe, widespread shortage of food, often causing mass starvation.
What is the difference between famine and drought?
A drought is a prolonged lack of rainfall, while a famine is the severe, widespread food shortage that can result from a drought, along with war, crop failure, or economic collapse. Drought describes a weather condition; famine describes its human consequence of mass hunger.
Is famine the same as starvation?
No, famine refers to the large-scale shortage of food affecting a population or region, while starvation is the physical condition an individual suffers from lack of food. A famine is what causes widespread starvation, not the condition itself.
Can famine be used to describe things other than food?
Yes, famine can describe any severe, widespread shortage, such as an "information famine" or a "housing famine." This figurative use extends the core meaning of scarcity beyond just food.
