hunger march: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical/Formal/Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “hunger march” mean?
A long walk or demonstration, usually by a large group of unemployed or impoverished people, to protest against their economic hardship and to appeal to the government for help.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long walk or demonstration, usually by a large group of unemployed or impoverished people, to protest against their economic hardship and to appeal to the government for help.
Historically, a form of political protest associated with periods of mass unemployment, most famously in Britain and the US during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The term can be used more loosely for any organized, large-scale march focused on poverty or food insecurity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties due to the historical context, but it is more strongly associated with British history (e.g., the Jarrow March of 1936).
Connotations
UK: Strong historical resonance, often linked to specific marches like Jarrow. US: Less culturally specific, more general as a term for anti-poverty marches.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary speech in both varieties. Used primarily in historical or political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “hunger march” in a Sentence
A hunger march (from PLACE) to PLACE (by GROUP)The GROUP organised a hunger march to DEMAND something.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hunger march” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The unemployed men planned to hunger march from Glasgow to London.
- They are hunger marching to draw attention to the crisis.
American English
- The community decided to hunger march to the state capital.
- Protesters hunger marched for three days straight.
adjective
British English
- The hunger march organisers met in the town hall.
- It was a defining hunger march moment.
American English
- The hunger march route was lined with supporters.
- They faced hunger march conditions with little shelter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or political studies to describe a form of working-class protest.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be used in discussions of history or current severe economic crises.
Technical
Not a technical term outside historical/political analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hunger march”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hunger march”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunger march”
- Using it to describe any long walk while feeling hungry (incorrect). Spelling as 'hungermarch' without a space (should be two words or hyphenated: 'hunger-march').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a historical term. While similar protests happen, they are more likely called 'poverty marches' or 'protest marches'.
The Jarrow March (or Jarrow Crusade) in Britain, 1936, is the most iconic example.
Yes, though rare. It can be used to mean 'to take part in or organise a hunger march' (e.g., 'They hunger marched to the capital').
A hunger march is a physical journey or walk of protest. A hunger strike is a refusal to eat, usually by an individual or group in one location, as a form of protest or coercion.
A long walk or demonstration, usually by a large group of unemployed or impoverished people, to protest against their economic hardship and to appeal to the government for help.
Hunger march is usually historical/formal/journalistic in register.
Hunger march: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌŋɡə ˌmɑːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌŋɡər ˌmɑːrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The hunger marchers demanded bread and work.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a line of gaunt, hungry people MARCHING for miles to ask for food and jobs. The two words directly state the reason and the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTEST IS A JOURNEY; DESPERATION IS A FORCED MARCH.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'hunger march'?