1
: the act or process of nourishing or being nourished
specifically : the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances
foods that are necessary for human nutrition
2
: nourishment sense 1
… get adequate nutrition both before and during the race.John Hanc
nutritionally adverb

Examples of nutrition in a Sentence

The speaker discussed diet and nutrition with the class. good nutrition and proper exercise
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eating less while in space can pose a problem because nutrition is essential for maintaining muscle strength, immune function and mental performance. Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 Improving a child’s nutrition will rest on much more than a parent’s choice at a grocery store. Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Capital from retailers is flowing into weight-management platforms, virtual obesity care, nutrition coaching, metabolic health solutions, and employer care management programs. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026 While red and green grapes have similar nutrition profiles, red grapes might contain more antioxidants. Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nutrition

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nutricioun, from Late Latin nutrition-, nutritio, from Latin nutrire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nutrition was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nutrition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutrition. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: the act or process of nourishing or being nourished
especially : the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and makes use of food substances
2

Medical Definition

1
: the act or process of nourishing or being nourished
specifically : the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances
2

More from Merriam-Webster on nutrition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!