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Definition of famine

famine

/ˈfæm.ɪn/
fam · ine
Plural:famines
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famine Lexical Profile

famine Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An extreme and widespread scarcity of food across a large region or population, often caused by drought, crop failure, or economic collapse.

Example

"Prolonged drought and poor harvests led to a devastating famine across the province."

2

A severe shortage or acute deficiency of any essential commodity or resource.

Example

"The manufacturing sector struggled during the sudden coal famine of the nineteenth century."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for famine

• Nearby Words

familiarize
familiarly
family
famine
famish
famished
famous

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'famine', which derives from the Latin noun 'fames', meaning 'hunger' or 'starvation'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Famine. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/famine
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