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

Among the remaining whales where a cause of death could be determined, many showed signs of malnutrition.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 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

"The nutritional situation is very bad and malnutrition is increasing," he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

The Gates Foundation plans to close in 2045, with Bill Gates planning to spend more than $200 billion until then fighting poverty, malnutrition and other global problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Picture a four-foot-eleven praying mantis suffering from extreme malnutrition, with a long nose and glasses that were last in style when President Truman wore them.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• hunger
• starvation