Famine — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈfa-mən/ fam·ine

Meaning & Definition of Famine

Famine (noun)

  1. an extreme scarcity of food
  2. starvation
  3. a ravenous appetite

Famine (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

    "there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas"

    similar: crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want
    related: absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation
    opposite: abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth
    near: bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Famine

The most common words with a similar meaning to Famine:

crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Famine

Words with the opposite meaning of Famine:

abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

Related Words for Famine

absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation

Near Antonyms of Famine

bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Origin & Etymology of Famine

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Famine

What does "Famine" mean?

"Famine" means an extreme scarcity of food. As a noun, it is defined as: an extreme scarcity of food.

What is another word for "Famine"?

Other words for "Famine" include crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, inadequacy and inadequateness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Famine" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Famine"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Famine". Common alternatives include crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency and lack.

What is the opposite of "Famine"?

Antonyms of "Famine" include abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency and wealth. Near antonyms include bountifulness, copiousness, excess and overabundance.

How do you use "Famine" in a sentence?

Examples of "Famine" in a sentence: "there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas".

Is "Famine" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Famine" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Famine"?

"Famine" is pronounced /ˈfa-mən/ and divided into syllables as fam·ine.

What is the origin of the word "Famine"?

"Famine" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from feim, faim hunger, from Latin fames. First known use: 14th century.