malnutrition

American  

[mal-noo-trish-uhn, -nyoo-] / ˌmæl nuˈtrɪʃ ən, -nyu- /

noun

1. lack of proper nutrition; inadequate or unbalanced nutrition.

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malnutrition British  

/ ˌmælnjuːˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. lack of adequate nutrition resulting from insufficient food, unbalanced diet, or defective assimilation

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malnutrition Scientific  

/ măl′no̅o̅-trĭsh′ən /

1. Poor nutrition caused by an insufficient, oversufficient, or poorly balanced diet or by a medical condition, such as chronic diarrhea, resulting in inadequate digestion or utilization of foods.

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malnutrition Cultural  

1. Inadequate nutrition caused by the lack of a balanced diet or by disorders of the digestive system in which the nutrients from food cannot be absorbed properly.

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Etymology

Origin of malnutrition

First recorded in 1860–65; mal- + nutrition

Compare meaning

How does malnutrition compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• malnutrition vs. undernutrition

Explanation

Malnutrition is a condition resulting from an unbalanced diet or insufficient food. If you live for an entire year on Twinkies and diet soda, you will undoubtedly suffer from malnutrition. When you break apart the word malnutrition, it’s easy to remember what it means. You’re probably already familiar with nutrition, which refers to taking in or using food. Add on the prefix mal-, meaning “bad,” and you get a word that means “bad nutrition.” If you suffer from malnutrition, that means you aren’t getting the right balance of nutrients. This can be caused by not getting enough to eat, or it can be caused by not eating enough healthy foods.

Example Sentences

Aid trucks are no longer diverted from reaching their destinations en masse, and child malnutrition cases have plummeted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

He has met his lawyer in a wheelchair on multiple occasions, in some cases struggling to get out of bed, and has reportedly shown signs of malnutrition, according to Qiang.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Launched in January 2025, the initiative was touted by the government as a way to tackle a malnutrition and stunting crisis in the country of 284 million people.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Displaced families now live in vast tent settlements, where they face malnutrition, hunger and the spread of disease.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

Ulcers, glaucoma, gastritis, gangrene, cancer, broken limbs, malnutrition, and a host of infectious diseases—almost everything came through the doors of Zanmi Lasante.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• hunger
• starvation