foodstuff

noun

food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf 

: a substance with food value

specifically : the raw material of food before or after processing

Synonyms

• bread
• chow
• chuck [chiefly West]
• comestibles
• eatables
• eats
• edibles
• fare
• food
• grub
• meat
• provender
• provisions
• table
• tucker [chiefly Australian]
• viands
• victuals
• vittles

Examples of foodstuff in a Sentence

stocked up on candles and foodstuffs before the hurricane

Recent Examples on the Web

Aside from its commercial dependence on minerals and foodstuffs, China has clear geopolitical interests in the region, most of them at odds with the values of liberal democracies. —Julio Armando Guzmán, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2023

At the same time, the understanding of what matters to national security has also expanded, as countries seek to advance or protect everything from software and microchips to pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs. —Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024

Going into hiding posed numerous logistical obstacles: ration cards and coupons would need to be procured or forged, foodstuffs and vital supplies obtained. —TIME, 2 Aug. 2024

To take advantage of these openings, the United States and its allies can begin with steps to ensure that essential foodstuffs reach countries whose imports have been disrupted by Russia’s war in Ukraine. —Daniel S. Hamilton, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

foodstuff

noun

food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf 

: a substance with food value

especially : a specific nutrient (as protein or fat)

Medical Definition

foodstuff

noun

food·​stuff ˈfüd-ˌstəf 

: a substance with food value

especially : a specific nutrient (as a fat or protein)