noun
starvation
stah-VAY-shuhn
noun
1
The state of suffering or dying from a severe lack of food.
"The drought led to widespread starvation in the region."
"Relief agencies rushed food supplies to prevent starvation."
2
A severe shortage of something essential, used more broadly than just food.
"Years of underfunding left the department in a state of starvation."
How to Use Starvation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe condition of not having enough food (or, more broadly, resources) to survive or function properly.
Common pairings
die of starvation
starvation diet
on the brink of starvation
Word Forms
starvations plural
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The drought led to widespread _____ in the region.
Etymology
Formed from starve plus the noun ending -ation.