macronutrient

American  

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

noun

1. Nutrition. any of the nutritional components of the diet that are required in relatively large amounts: protein, carbohydrate, fat, and the macrominerals.

2. Botany. any of the three chemical elements required by plants in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

---

macronutrient British  

/ ˌmækrəʊˈnjuːtrɪənt /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of macronutrient

First recorded in 1940–45; macro- + nutrient

Example Sentences

"If you're not consuming a lot of fiber, you're possibly consuming calories from other macronutrient groups, and they may be high in carbohydrates or fats, which can lead to weight gain," Lee said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

Almost every food contains more than one macronutrient.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024

Had I been a member, I might have met with a Love.Life nutritionist next, to configure my caloric and macronutrient needs to support weight loss or exercise performance.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

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 next steps of this research are to replicate these findings in other cohorts, to perform studies with blood flow measures and the capacity to track macronutrient absorption."

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2024