foodstuff

noun

food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
specifically : the raw material of food before or after processing

Synonyms of foodstuff

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Examples of foodstuff in a Sentence

stocked up on candles and foodstuffs before the hurricane
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.
This can amount to extra water for cooking or tea and coffee, extra foodstuffs or other forms of assistance. — Laura Kelly, The Hill, 26 Apr. 2026 The animals will eat most foods, and may enter human neighborhoods to ransack garbage cans or eat other unsecured foodstuffs. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 Shop for clothing, gifts, made-to-measure furnishings, regional crafts, and artisanal foodstuffs. — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026 Valentine’s Day, a holiday that fills hearts with figurative longing and passion — and literal foodstuffs, like chocolate. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foodstuff

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foodstuff was in 1872

Rhymes for foodstuff

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Browse Nearby Words

food stamp
foodstuff
food truck
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Cite this Entry

“Foodstuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foodstuff. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

foodstuff

noun
food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
especially : a specific nutrient (as protein or fat)

Medical Definition

foodstuff

noun
food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf How to pronounce foodstuff (audio)
: a substance with food value
especially : a specific nutrient (as a fat or protein)

More from Merriam-Webster on foodstuff

Nglish: Translation of foodstuff for Spanish Speakers

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