malnutrition

noun

mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-nu̇-ˈtri-shən 

-nyu̇-

: faulty nutrition due to inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients or their impaired assimilation or utilization

Examples of malnutrition in a Sentence

a program to help poor children suffering from malnutrition

Recent Examples on the Web

Widespread malnutrition after a year of dwindling food supplies is another factor making this winter deadly. —Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Jan. 2025

The researchers also observed signs on the bones that the child was suffering from a disease around the time of death—possibly scurvy—or malnutrition. —Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

Patients had acute respiratory infections — think COVID, flu or rhinoviruses — complicated by malaria as well as widespread malnutrition. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024

Those laughing, loving Brooklyn Nolans struggle with poverty and malnutrition. —Perri Klass, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

malnutrition

noun

mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-n(y)u̇-ˈtrish-ən 

: faulty nutrition especially due to inadequate intake of nutrients

Medical Definition

malnutrition

noun

mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-n(y)u̇-ˈtrish-ən 

: faulty nutrition due to inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients or their impaired assimilation or utilization

malnutritional

-ᵊl 

adjective