Definition

Noun 1. A severe and widespread shortage of food: This refers to an extreme scarcity of food across a region or population, typically caused by factors like crop failure, war, or economic collapse, leading to widespread hunger, starvation, and death. 2. A drastic shortage or scarcity of something: This is a metaphorical use, meaning a severe lack or insufficiency of a particular non-food resource or commodity.

Examples of Usage

• Literal meaning (food shortage):
  • The prolonged drought led to a devastating famine in the region.
  • International aid agencies rushed supplies to the country to alleviate the famine.
• Metaphorical meaning (severe lack):
  • There is a famine of new ideas in the current political discourse.
  • During the economic crisis, the city experienced a jobs famine.

Advanced Usage

• "to die of famine": to die from the effects of a severe food shortage.
  • Historical records show that millions died of famine during the 19th century.
• "famine prices": exorbitantly high prices caused by an extreme scarcity of goods.
  • The blockade caused famine prices for basic necessities like flour and medicine.

Variants and Related Words

• Famished (adjective): Extremely hungry.
  • After the long hike, we were absolutely famished.

Synonyms

• Starvation: Suffering or death caused by lack of food.
• Dearth: A scarcity or lack of something (often used in the metaphorical sense).
• Shortage: A state in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.

Related Phrases

• Feast or famine: A situation characterized by alternating periods of great abundance and extreme scarcity.
  • Freelance work is often a feast or famine existence.

Related Idioms

• Famine in the midst of plenty: A situation where there is a severe shortage or need even though there are abundant resources available elsewhere.
  • The inability to distribute food effectively created a famine in the midst of plenty.

Noun

1. a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
2. an acute insufficiency