A very poor harvest caused by bad weather, pests, etc.; a crop failure. Opposite of a bountiful harvest and can lead to famine or price increases.
今年は冷夏で米が凶作になった地域が多い。
This year many regions experienced poor rice harvests due to a cool summer.
凶作のため、米価が急騰した。
Because of the poor harvest, rice prices surged.
古文書には連年の凶作で飢饉が起きたと記されている。
Old records state that repeated poor harvests caused famine.