macronutrient

noun

mac·​ro·​nu·​tri·​ent ˌma-krō-ˈnü-trē-ənt 

-ˈnyü-

: a chemical element or substance (such as potassium or protein) that is essential in relatively large amounts to the growth and health of a living organism compare micronutrient

Examples of macronutrient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both diets had identical macronutrient ratios, but participants absorbed more energy overall from the Western diet. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2025

Food provides essential macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, protein, and water) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) needed for health at all life stages. —Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025

Carbohydrates, or carbs, are a type of macronutrient, a nutrient the body needs in large quantities. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 2 June 2025

Lots of Americans have taken up weightlifting, and partly as a result, protein maximalism has become the macronutrient fad du jour, like the low-fat diets of the 1980s and low-carb in the early 2000s. —Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

macro- + nutrient entry 2

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for macronutrient

• micronutrient
• nutrient

Medical Definition

macronutrient

noun

mac·​ro·​nu·​tri·​ent -ˈn(y)ü-trē-ənt 

: a substance (as a protein, carbohydrate, or fat) required in relatively large quantities for growth, energy, and health compare micronutrient