undernourished

adjective

un·​der·​nour·​ished ˌən-dər-ˈnər-isht How to pronounce undernourished (audio)
-ˈnə-risht
1
: supplied with less than the minimum amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by undernutrition
undernourished infants
Since these drugs suppress appetite, stimulant users are often undernourished and experience all the ill effects of that condition.Cynthia Kuhn
2
: poorly supplied with vital elements or qualities
undernourished independent libraries
undernourishment noun

Examples of undernourished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In Africa, where 30.8% of children under five are stunted and one in five people is undernourished, this impact has the potential to be particularly powerful. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 Life in Arkham is no life at all, and Phoenix appears to have undergone even more severe weight loss in the name of his craft this time, all the better to suggest a broken, undernourished soul. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2024 Zinc supplementation increases height in both healthy and undernourished children. Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024 At a time when climate change, poverty, and instability are driving food insecurity— leaving one in five Africans undernourished and 58% facing moderate to severe hunger— investing in indigenous crops offers a powerful solution. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for undernourished 

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of undernourished was in 1863

Dictionary Entries Near undernourished

Cite this Entry

“Undernourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undernourished. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

undernourished

adjective
un·​der·​nour·​ished ˌən-dər-ˈnər-isht How to pronounce undernourished (audio)
-ˈnə-risht
: supplied with too little food for health and growth
undernourishment
-ˈnər-ish-ment How to pronounce undernourished (audio)
-ˈnə-rish-
noun

Medical Definition

undernourished

adjective
un·​der·​nour·​ished ˌən-dər-ˈnər-isht, -ˈnə-risht How to pronounce undernourished (audio)
: supplied with less than the minimum amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by undernutrition
undernourished infants
Since these drugs suppress appetite, stimulant users are often undernourished and experience all the ill effects of that condition.Cynthia Kuhn
undernourishment noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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