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

Nearly 94,000 of them are projected to face severe acute malnutrition, a potentially life-threatening condition without timely treatment. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

Millions of people across Congo were already dealing with malaria, measles, and malnutrition; more than 20,000 people died of malaria in 2024 alone. — Stephanie Psaki, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, the region's healthcare system is already stretched thin, treating children with malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria or measles on a regular basis. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

The analyses pointed to malnutrition as a common cause of death, followed by blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by boats. — Ainslie Cruickshank, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 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