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

Normally, the malnutrition and diarrhea that weakened his tiny frame would have been treated within a few days, but nothing is normal in Yemen anymore. — Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

The candidate also stressed cost efficiency and collaborations with other UN agencies in implementing the organization's mandate of providing regular access to enough high-quality food and ending hunger and malnutrition. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

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

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