food insecurity

noun

plural food insecurities

: the fact or an instance of being unable to consistently access or afford adequate food

The USDA defines food insecurity as a household's inability to provide enough food for each person to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Food insecurity can also occur when there is an abundance of processed, pre-packaged, calorie-dense foods, because these foods do not contain adequate nutrition.

—The Northeast Mississippi (Tupelo) Daily Journal

The federal government often allocates funds to help citizens facing food insecurity and other socio-economic hardships …

—Yssis Cano-Santiago

This past year has laid bare concerns about food insecurities in this country. The pandemic has led to shortages in the grocery store on essential items like toilet paper and meat.

—Amanda Radke

Examples of food insecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, food insecurity—and its downstream health effects—is increasing across the globe. —Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

According to recent studies in the West Valley-Mission Community College District, almost one-third of students deal with food insecurity every day, which is consistent with statewide findings from the Real College California Survey. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025

Lifeline Charlotte is a local non-profit dedicated to fighting food insecurity both locally and globally. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025

Women and immigrants, people with disabilities and those who are overweight, obese or struggling with food insecurity also reported higher levels. —Monica Wang, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for food insecurity

• biosecurity
• cybersecurity
• immaturity
• prematurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• security
• purity
• surety