nutrient

American  

[noo-tree-uhnt, nyoo-] / ˈnu tri ənt, ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. nourishing; providing nourishment or nutriment.

2. containing or conveying nutriment, as solutions or vessels of the body.

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noun

1. a nutrient substance.

nutrient British  

/ ˈnjuːtrɪənt /

noun

1. any of the mineral substances that are absorbed by the roots of plants for nourishment

2. any substance that nourishes an organism

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adjective

1. providing or contributing to nourishment

   a nutrient solution

nutrient Scientific  

/ no̅o̅′trē-ənt /

1. A substance that provides nourishment for growth or metabolism. Plants absorb nutrients mainly from the soil in the form of minerals and other inorganic compounds, and animals obtain nutrients from ingested foods.

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Other Word Forms

• nonnutrient
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nutrient

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin nūtrient-, stem of nūtriēns “feeding,” present participle of nūtrīre “to feed”; see nourish

Explanation

A nutrient is anything that nourishes a living being. We humans get our nutrients from what we eat, plants get theirs from the soil. While the best nutrients are natural, we can also get them from vitamins in a bottle. The words nutrient and nourish both come from the Latin word nūtrīre, "to feed, nurse, support, preserve." Although usually used as a noun, the word nutrient started out in 1650 as an adjective meaning "providing nourishment." It's important to your health to get the proper nutrients, so the food pyramid was developed by nutritionists to show you the balance of foods you need each day.

Example Sentences

Brands also hopped on the trend, going so far as to incorporate protein into products that don’t have the nutrient in the first place.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

It added that the agri-food industry has "become heavily dependent" on millions of tonnes of imported animal feed and fertiliser that can provide more nutrient that animals and crops need.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Since taking office as health secretary, Kennedy has repeatedly suggested that the current U.S. nutrient standards for infant formula are outdated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

All cells must adjust to changes in nutrient supply to survive.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

But for those who’ve lived as refugees longer than memory, learning to believe in the nutrient cycle requires something close to a religious conversion.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• fiber
• food
• mineral
• vitamin