malnutrition

noun

mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-nu̇-ˈtri-shən How to pronounce malnutrition (audio)
-nyu̇-
Synonyms of malnutritionnext
: 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
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.
Measles usually kills two or three people in every 1,000 cases, the WHO says, but the disease can be more deadly in poorer nations because of factors such as malnutrition. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 About 500,000 children in Yemen under the age of 5 suffer from severe acute malnutrition, according to the group. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 In northern Gaza, children died from malnutrition and dehydration. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 That includes 433,000 children expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition, the form carrying the greatest risk of death. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malnutrition

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of malnutrition was in 1862

Rhymes for malnutrition

See All Rhymes for malnutrition

Browse Nearby Words

malnourished
malnutrition
malo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Malnutrition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malnutrition. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

malnutrition

noun
mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-n(y)u̇-ˈtrish-ən How to pronounce malnutrition (audio)
: faulty nutrition especially due to inadequate intake of nutrients

Medical Definition

malnutrition

noun
mal·​nu·​tri·​tion ˌmal-n(y)u̇-ˈtrish-ən How to pronounce malnutrition (audio)
: faulty nutrition due to inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients or their impaired assimilation or utilization
malnutritional
-ᵊl How to pronounce malnutrition (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on malnutrition

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for malnutrition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about malnutrition

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