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

People across Sudan are not only hungry every single day, but countless people are suffering from severe malnutrition to starvation. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

More than 18 million people face acute food insecurity, including more than two million children under age five suffering from acute malnutrition. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Over 67% of the country's population is dependent on aid, while 825,000 children face acute malnutrition. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Runa’s death was attributed to malnutrition due to an eating disorder. — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 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