starvation

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'starvation' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that refers to the extreme insufficiency of food and nutrition. For example: "Many developing countries suffer from widespread starvation due to poverty and political unrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Armenians were branded as an enemy within by the Ottoman government, which used the cover of the first world war to systematically dispose of more than 1 million people, forcing great columns of humanity to march off into the Syrian desert to die of heat, starvation and disease.

The Guardian - Opinion

When he'd entered his 11th year, with no sign of freedom coming, he decided to kill himself by starvation.

The Guardian

Now, should I keep the revolution going for the sake of the martyrs and allow more people to die from starvation under the regime's bombing?

The Guardian

Freshers at the University of Hull are being taught how to stave off starvation today by Nora Sands, the straight-talking dinner lady from Jamie's School Dinners.

The Guardian

The pictures show 27 men (some elderly), two children and one woman in various positions, almost all displaying signs of prolonged starvation.

The Guardian

By way of comparison, in April the government will scrap a £347m crisis fund that provides emergency cash for families on the verge of homelessness or starvation.

The Guardian - Opinion

In their film The Other Interview Amnesty International tell the story of Park Ji-hyun, a young woman who says she fled starvation in North Korea before being trafficked to China where she was forced to work as a slave.

The Guardian

In an open letter to Tom Clausen, the bank's president, he told him to "stop financing the destruction of the tropical world, the devastation of its remaining forests, the extermination of its wildlife, and the impoverishment and starvation of its human inhabitants".

The Guardian

Trapped in the ice for years and afflicted by scurvy, starvation and, possibly, lead poisoning from their poorly preserved tins of food, the men had suffered appalling fates.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Huangs have maintained their innocence and say their daughter suffered from medical problems complicated by unusual eating habits that included periods of binging and self-starvation.

The Guardian

"They condemned millions of people to semi-starvation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "starvation", ensure you provide context about the causes, such as famine, war, or economic factors, to give the issue greater depth and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "starvation" when describing mild or temporary hunger. "Starvation" refers to a severe and prolonged lack of food leading to significant health consequences and potential death.

Linguistic Context

The noun "starvation" primarily functions as a descriptor of a condition, denoting the state of suffering severely from lack of food. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, demonstrated in examples highlighting causes and consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "starvation" refers to severe suffering caused by lack of nutrition. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It appears frequently in news, formal reports, and scientific contexts, highlighting humanitarian crises and the consequences of food shortages. Related terms include "famine conditions" and "severe malnutrition", yet it's important not to confuse "starvation" with simple hunger. To ensure clarity, provide context about the causes when discussing "starvation" in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

famine conditions

Emphasizes the environmental and societal context leading to mass starvation.

food deprivation

Directly indicates the absence of food, a key component of starvation.

acute food shortage

Focuses on the scarcity of food, a direct cause of starvation.

lack of sustenance

Highlights the absence of essential nourishment needed to maintain life.

severe malnutrition

Highlights the detrimental health effects resulting from inadequate nutrition, akin to starvation's impact.

extreme hunger

Emphasizes the intensity of hunger, approaching the severity of starvation.

undernourishment

Describes the state of not receiving enough nutrients, which can lead to starvation if prolonged.

chronic hunger

Implies a persistent state of food deprivation, less severe than starvation but related.

nutrient deficiency

Focuses on the lack of essential nutrients, a contributing factor to starvation's detrimental effects.

food insecurity

Focuses on the lack of reliable access to sufficient and nutritious food, a precursor to starvation.

FAQs

How is "starvation" typically used in a sentence?

"Starvation" is commonly used to describe a severe lack of food. For example, "The refugees were facing widespread "acute food shortage" and starvation after the conflict".

What are some alternative words for "starvation"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "famine conditions", "severe malnutrition", or "food deprivation" as alternatives to "starvation".

What distinguishes "starvation" from simple hunger?

"Starvation" indicates a prolonged and extreme lack of food leading to severe health problems and potential death, unlike simple "chronic hunger", which can be temporary and less severe.

Can "starvation" be prevented?

Yes, "starvation" can often be prevented through measures such as providing food aid, improving agricultural practices, and addressing underlying issues of poverty and conflict that lead to "acute food shortage".