Definition of "famine" in English

noun

1. (uncountable) Extreme shortage of food in a region.

2. (countable) A period of extreme shortage of food in a region.

   • 1986, United States Congress, House Select Committee on Hunger, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Famine and Recovery in Africa The root causes of the current famine are known: poverty, low health standards....

3. (dated) Starvation or malnutrition.

   • His own flesh, however, which he lost by famine, shall be restored to him by Him who can recover even what has evaporated.

4. Severe shortage or lack of something.

   • the Lancashire Cotton Famine