# famine

/ˈfæmən/ (US) · /fˈæmɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/famine
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. extreme food shortage

noun · CEFR B2

a long period of time when there is not enough food for the people living in an area.

For teachers: an extreme and general scarcity of food within a geographic region, often caused by crop failure, war, or economic collapse.

- The country suffered a terrible famine after three years without any rain for the crops.
- The historical records suggest that the famine was exacerbated by poor infrastructure, which prevented the efficient distribution of grain to the hardest-hit provinces.

Usage: Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific historical event.

### 2. shortage of something else

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a situation where there is a lack of something important, not just food.

For teachers: a metaphorical extension referring to a severe lack or shortage of a non-food resource.

- The tech industry is facing a famine of skilled workers right now.
- After a decade of creative abundance, the film industry entered a period of artistic famine, with few original scripts reaching production.

Usage: Typically follows the pattern 'a famine of [noun]'.

Teaching tip: This is a figurative use; in everyday conversation, 'shortage' is much more common.

### 3. mythological figure

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a character in old stories who represents hunger, often shown riding a black horse.

For teachers: the personification of hunger and scarcity, specifically as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

- In the old painting, Famine is shown as a thin man on a dark horse.
- The artist depicted Famine with a pair of weighing scales, symbolising the extreme price of wheat during times of great scarcity.

Usage: Usually capitalised when referring to the personified figure.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to theological or literary discussions of the Four Horsemen.

## Examples

- The country suffered a terrible famine after the crops failed.
- International aid organizations are working to prevent a famine in the region following three years of severe drought.
- Historians argue that the famine was caused not just by environmental factors, but by a failure of political systems to distribute existing resources to those in need.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.