famine Definition

famine
noun

1. A severe general shortage of food, usually caused by a population explosion or failure of food crops.

Thesaurus: starvation, hunger, dearth, want, scarcity, destitution; Antonym: plenty.
2. The period during which this shortage occurs.
3. Extreme hunger; starvation.

Etymology: 14c: French, from Latin fames hunger.