hunger strike: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; Political; Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “hunger strike” mean?
A prolonged refusal to eat, undertaken as a form of protest, typically by a prisoner or group to demand something or express dissent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prolonged refusal to eat, undertaken as a form of protest, typically by a prisoner or group to demand something or express dissent.
Any deliberate and sustained act of refusing food to coerce authorities, raise awareness, or achieve a political or moral objective. It can also be used metaphorically for other forms of extreme, self-sacrificing protest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or spelling. Usage is identical. The associated vocabulary may differ slightly (e.g., 'in hospital' (UK) vs. 'in the hospital' (US)).
Connotations
Identical historical and political connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in political and news discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hunger strike” in a Sentence
[SUBJECT] went on (a) hunger strike (to demand [OBJECT]).[SUBJECT] is staging a hunger strike (in protest against [OBJECT]).A hunger strike by [GROUP] has entered its [NUMBER] day.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hunger strike” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The detainees have threatened to hunger strike if their demands are not met.
- She announced she would hunger strike until the minister agreed to a meeting.
American English
- The activists are prepared to hunger strike for weeks to block the pipeline's construction.
- He vowed to hunger strike outside the governor's mansion.
adjective
British English
- The hunger-strike campaign entered a critical phase.
- They discussed hunger-strike tactics at the meeting.
American English
- The hunger-strike protest garnered international attention.
- Prison officials developed a new policy for hunger-strike inmates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Would only appear in discussions of corporate social responsibility or activist pressure on companies.
Academic
Used in political science, history, sociology, and human rights studies to analyse forms of non-violent resistance.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Used when discussing current events or historical protests.
Technical
Used in legal and medical contexts (e.g., prison management, ethics of force-feeding, assessing health risks).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hunger strike”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hunger strike”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunger strike”
- Using it as a single word ('hungerstrike').
- Confusing it with 'fasting,' which can be for religious or health reasons without a protest aim.
- Incorrect verb form: 'He is hunger striking' (awkward) vs. 'He is on hunger strike' or 'He has begun a hunger strike.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun. It is often hyphenated when used as a modifier (e.g., 'hunger-strike protester').
Yes, though it is less common than the noun form. It functions as a verb phrase (e.g., 'to hunger strike'). The more frequent construction is 'to go on (a) hunger strike.'
A hunger strike is specifically a form of protest with a political or social goal. Fasting is broader and can be for religious observance, health, or spiritual reasons, not necessarily as a public protest.
Common collocations are 'to end a hunger strike,' 'to break a hunger strike,' 'to call off a hunger strike,' or 'to suspend a hunger strike.'
A prolonged refusal to eat, undertaken as a form of protest, typically by a prisoner or group to demand something or express dissent.
Hunger strike is usually formal; political; journalistic in register.
Hunger strike: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌŋɡə ˌstraɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌŋɡər ˌstraɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take hunger strike to the door of death (to pursue it with extreme risk).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HUNGER' (the need for food) + 'STRIKE' (a work stoppage protest). It's a 'strike' against eating due to hunger for justice.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A WEAPON / SELF-SACRIFICE IS A TOOL FOR NEGOTIATION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'hunger strike' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?