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

Sanctions can be highly destructive by weakening national economies, undermining health systems, and limiting access to foodstuffs and essential technologies—often strengthening the hand of the very governments the sanctions seek to undermine. —Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Before Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was producing enough grain, cooking oils and foodstuffs to feed some 400 million people throughout the world. —Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2024

But in Germany, the conception of each foodstuff as a limited-time-only treat is seen not as inconvenient, but rather, as a way to whet appetites. —Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 1 June 2024

From Hawaii to Helsinki, from Mumbai to Marrakesh, Rosenthal has sampled street food, tasting menus, and bizarre foodstuffs from around the globe—and from some of the world’s top chefs. —Bydave Smith, Fortune, 22 May 2024

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)