What is the Latin word for fasting?

The usual Latin words for “fasting” are inedia, famēs, ieiūnium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“fasting” in Latin

inediafasting, starvation famēshunger ieiūniumfast (day); fasting; Lent; hunger

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

fasting s.

inedia (general term for not eating): inedia imperata (ordered; e.g., by a physician): fames (as a method of cure): jejunium (e.g., jejunio vexare aegrum, Cels., 2, 3, 18, extr.). To subdue one’s appetite by fasting, se longis jejuniis domare (after illos longa domant inopi jejunia victu; Ov.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for fasting?: The usual Latin words for “fasting” are inedia, famēs, ieiūnium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.