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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

starvation

stah-VAY-shuhn

Starvation (noun) means the state of suffering or dying from a severe lack of food. Example: “The drought led to widespread starvation in the region.”

noun
1
The state of suffering or dying from a severe lack of food.
"The drought led to widespread starvation in the region."
"Relief agencies rushed food supplies to prevent starvation."
2
A severe shortage of something essential, used more broadly than just food.
"Years of underfunding left the department in a state of starvation."

How to use starvation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe condition of not having enough food (or, more broadly, resources) to survive or function properly.

Common pairings
die of starvation starvation diet on the brink of starvation

Word forms

starvations plural

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Fill the gap

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The drought led to widespread _____ in the region.

Etymology

Formed from starve plus the noun ending -ation.

Related words

Rhymes for starvation

See all rhymes for starvation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “starvation” mean?

The word “starvation” means the state of suffering or dying from a severe lack of food. In plain terms, the condition of not having enough food (or, more broadly, resources) to survive or function properly.

How do you pronounce “starvation”?

“Starvation” is pronounced stah-VAY-shuhn (/stɑɹˈveɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “starvation” in a sentence?

Here is “starvation” used in a sentence: “The drought led to widespread starvation in the region.”

What part of speech is “starvation”?

“Starvation” is a noun.

Is “starvation” a common word?

“Starvation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “starvation” have?

“Starvation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of suffering or dying from a severe lack of food.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial