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

While in past decades the program focused on helping nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition today is vanishingly rare, but obesity has become a major concern. —Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Nov. 2025

The malnutrition ward was filled with crying babies and distraught-looking parents. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

There also were other instances in Monroe County involving animals left without food, water or shelter; and as a result suffered from exposure and malnutrition. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

The report also named 17-year-old Walid Khalid Ahmad, who died following prolonged malnutrition, according to an autopsy report. —Abeer Salman, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

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