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
Examples of famine in a Sentence
The famine affected half the continent.
millions killed by war, drought, and famine
Recent Examples on the Web
All proceeds will benefit Band Aid Trust, which has raised more than $175 million for famine relief and emergency aid.
—
Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2024
In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
Entertainment production in Los Angeles has always been feast or famine.
—Kristen Lopez, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Low productivity in agriculture and absence of reliable means of transportation led to chronic malnutrition, famines, and associated diseases.
—Tithi Bhattacharya / Made By History, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for famine 
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Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2024
In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
Entertainment production in Los Angeles has always been feast or famine.
—Kristen Lopez, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Low productivity in agriculture and absence of reliable means of transportation led to chronic malnutrition, famines, and associated diseases.
—Tithi Bhattacharya / Made By History, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for famine
Dictionary Entries Near famine
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
famine
noun
fam·ine
ˈfam-ən 
1
: an extreme general shortage of food
2
: a great shortage
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