Famine
A severe and prolonged shortage of food in a region, causing widespread hunger and malnutrition.
nounFamine
A severe and prolonged shortage of food in a region, causing widespread hunger and malnutrition.
nounImagine This
Imagine a once-fertile valley where drought has baked the soil; families line up with empty bowls, sharing a single crust as the sun blazes overhead.
Sounds Like
FAM-in (sounds like 'fam' + 'in')
Looks Like
fame (visually similar; one extra letter 'i' distinguishes the meaning)
Remember This
Famine denotes a large-scale food shortage, unlike general hunger; often linked to drought, natural disaster, war, or political failure.
Other Forms
Connect With
hunger, starvation, scarcity, dearth, deprivation
Note
Use famine for widespread food shortage, not merely a lack of appetite. The plural 'famines' is common when discussing multiple regions or time periods.