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

Turtles that are deprived of UVB radiation will lose interest in eating, suffer from malnutrition and develop fatal metabolic bone disease. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

There’s similar progress on obesity and cancer, as well as on problems in developing countries like malaria, TB, and malnutrition. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026

Many suffer from malnutrition and avoidable infectious diseases. —Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026

Shortages of food, once guaranteed by a government rationing system, are threatening to push millions of Cubans closer to malnutrition. —Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for malnutrition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

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