macronutrient

American

[mak-roh-noo-tree-uhnt, -nyoo-] / ˌmæk roʊˈnu tri ənt, -ˈnyu- /

noun

Nutrition. any of the nutritional components of the diet that are required in relatively large amounts: protein, carbohydrate, fat, and the macrominerals.
Botany. any of the three chemical elements required by plants in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

macronutrient British

/ ˌmækrəʊˈnjuːtrɪənt /

noun

any substance, such as carbon, hydrogen, or oxygen, that is required in large amounts for healthy growth and development

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of macronutrient

First recorded in 1940–45; macro- + nutrient

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But it’s slated to face some competition from yet another macronutrient.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2026

It would need to compare a large number of people on two diets – one high in UPFs and one low in UPFs, but matched exactly for calorie and macronutrient content.

From BBC • Jul. 27, 2024

The research goes on to provide recommendations to patients and caregivers on healthy eating patterns consistent with the energy and macronutrient guidelines and includes an online calculator.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2024

“Emojis also help in English, where words like protein can mean the macronutrient from food or the concept from microbiology.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2023

The yellow element is a vital macronutrient, and she's trying to understand how it cycles through the environment.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023