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Definition of starvation

starvation

/stɑːrˈveɪ.ʃən/
star · va · tion
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starvation Lexical Profile

starvation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Severe suffering or death caused by a prolonged lack of food.

Example

"The humanitarian relief agency delivered emergency grain supplies to prevent widespread starvation after the drought."

2

A severe deprivation or acute shortage of something essential for function, growth, or survival.

Example

"In computer science, resource starvation occurs when a process is perpetually denied the memory or processor time it needs to execute."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for starvation

• Nearby Words

startling
startlingly
startup
starvation
starve
starving
stash

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1775 by the British politician Henry Dundas during a parliamentary debate on American trade, making it one of the first English words to attach the Latinate suffix '-ation' to a native Old English verb ('steorfan', originally meaning 'to die').

Cite this Entry

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