: a substance or ingredient that promotes growth, provides energy, and maintains life
Tomatoes contain a lot of nutrients, among them vitamins C and B-complex and the minerals iron and potassium.—
Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Mayo Clinic Health LetterMost frugivores do not depend exclusively on fruits, because fruits tend to be deficient in certain nutrients such as protein, and because they are only seasonally available.—Robert Lee Smith
Robert Lee SmithSandy soils need organic amendments to help them retain nutrients and water, which otherwise leach out quickly.—Sunset
SunsetExamples of nutrient in a Sentence
Adjective
a breakfast drink enriched with nutrient proteins and vitamins
Noun
Fruits and vegetables have important nutrients.
The soil is low in nutrients.
You need more nutrients in your diet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2025
Choosing leaner cuts of red meat and using healthier cooking methods while including a variety of other nutrient-rich foods in your diet is a good way to include red meat in a balanced eating pattern.
—Roxana Ehsani, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025
Caroline Tien, SELF, 29 Apr. 2025
This finding indicates that the ecosystem was no longer being sustained by the nutrients from the hydrothermal system being released into the overlying ocean.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
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Adjective
Get nutrient-rich compost with the best compost tumblers A compost tumbler removes most of the backbreaking labor and still produces rich garden soil.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2025
Choosing leaner cuts of red meat and using healthier cooking methods while including a variety of other nutrient-rich foods in your diet is a good way to include red meat in a balanced eating pattern.
—Roxana Ehsani, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
Despite the importance of the nutrient, most Americans don’t get enough, so having a fiber-rich snack during the day can really help boost your overall intake.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 29 Apr. 2025
This finding indicates that the ecosystem was no longer being sustained by the nutrients from the hydrothermal system being released into the overlying ocean.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nutrient
Cite this Entry
“Nutrient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutrient. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nutrient
1 of 2 adjective
nu·tri·ent
ˈn(y)ü-trē-ənt 
: furnishing nourishment
nutrient
2 of 2 noun
: a nutrient substance or ingredient
Medical Definition
nutrient
1 of 2 adjective
nu·tri·ent
ˈn(y)ü-trē-ənt
: furnishing nourishment
nutrient
2 of 2 noun
: a nutritive substance or ingredient
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