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

At least 227 people – including 103 children – have died from malnutrition since the beginning of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025

More than 200 Palestinians have died from extreme malnutrition in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, even as Israel allows more aid to trickle into the territory. —Matt Bradley, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2025

The Gaza Health Ministry says a total of 212 people have died from malnutrition since the 22 months-long war began. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025

Those who disparage the use of coal ignore the enormous demand for electricity from the 800 million people, mainly in Asia and Africa, who live in the dark and suffer from chronic malnutrition. —Syd S. Peng, Boston Herald, 8 Aug. 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