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.
War, famine, disease and death — all four horsemen of the apocalypse. — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 This is Conolly’s Folly, built in 1740 at the height of a terrible famine. — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2026 Churchill’s role in the famine, which took place during the twilight of India’s rule by Great Britain, has long been a topic of debate among historians. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 June 2026 The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million and pushed many parts of Sudan into famine. — ABC News, 3 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 7 Jul. 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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